Type of anesthesia used during tubal ligation?

kmchugh · Jul 30, 2004

General anesthesia. In order to facilitate laparoscopy, some CO2 has to be injected into the belly. That would create a lot of discomfort that a spinal would not take care of.

Kevin McHugh

jwk · Jul 30, 2004

Hi,

I am having a bilateral tubal cauterization via laproscopic procedure on Tuesday and I am wondering if I will have a spinal or general anesthesia? My GYN is out of the office until Monday and I don't want to worry about it over the weekend.

His only instructions to me were, NPO after midnight. This will not be performed post-childbirth. He did say I will have two small incisions. I guess I was so nervous during
my appointment, I did not think to ask this very important question! :stone Any guesses???:uhoh21:

Thanks,
Michelle

I doubt anyone would even offer you anything besides a general for the reasons already stated. We tried doing a few laparoscopic tubal ligations using epidural, and even did one LOCAL laparoscopy. They both worked, but the patients were very uncomfortable and we never tried it again after those initial couple of attempts.

NewEnglandRN, RN · Jul 30, 2004

Thank you both for your replies. I feel better knowing what will happen. I feel foolish not asking him!!!

Have a great weekend,

Michelle

Gotosleepy · Jul 31, 2004

Tubal ligations can absolutely be done under spinal.... the gynecologist just has to insufflate less CO2 and have good fiberoptics to provide good lighting, and then aspirate all the CO2 out of the abdome at the end of the procedure... a tiny bit of versed goes along way as well w/ this technique.....look at the literature

Small-dose hypobaric lidocaine-fentanyl spinal anesthesia for short duration outpatient laparoscopy. II. Optimal fentanyl dose.

Anesth Analg. 1997 Jan;84(1):65-70.

Small-dose hypobaric lidocaine-fentanyl spinal anesthesia for short duration outpatient laparoscopy. I. A randomized comparison with conventional dose hyperbaric lidocaine.

Anesth Analg. 1997 Jan;84(1):59-64.

A comparison of meperidine and lidocaine for spinal anesthesia for tubal ligation.

Reg Anesth. 1996 Mar-Apr;21(2):84-8.

Spinal anesthesia for laparoscopic tubal sterilization.

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1978 May 15;131(2):219-20.

FLCRNA2B · Aug 1, 2004

I currently work in the PACU and see many pts with bilateral tubals performed under spinal anesthesia. They seem to do fine afterwards.