A patient is given spinal anesthesia for a surgical procedure on the abdomen. After several minutes, the patient states, "I can't feel my stomach," and then develops respiratory distress. The surgical team must provide respiratory assistance to maintain the patient's oxygenation levels. What is the most likely cause of this situation?
A)The patient developed a pulmonary embolism from lying on the bed for so long.
B)The spinal block moved too far toward the head, paralyzing the respiratory muscles.
C)The patient became extremely anxious when they realized that they could not feel their abdomen.
D)The patient had an unknown medical condition that caused respiratory failure.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most likely cause of the situation is that the spinal block moved too far toward the head, paralyzing the respiratory muscles. Some types of regional anesthesia, after being administered into the spine, move along the spinal column based on the specific gravity of the solution. The anesthesiologist controls the area that needs to be anesthetized by administering the agent and then positioning the patient. If the anesthesia affects the respiratory muscles, they will become temporarily paralyzed, requiring assisted ventilation.

A Patient Is Given Spinal Anesthesia for a Surgical Procedure