Spinal anesthesia is a form of regional anesthesia in which a local anesthetic drug is injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid within the subarachnoid space of the lower spine, producing a dense loss of sensation and movement in the lower body. German surgeon August Bier performed the first spinal anesthesia in 1898, testing the technique first on a patient and then, in a demonstration of its safety, on himself and an assistant. The technique is widely used today for cesarean delivery, hip and knee replacement surgery and other procedures below the waist, offering an alternative to general anesthesia that allows the patient to remain conscious while avoiding the risks associated with whole-body unconsciousness.
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1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_anaesthesia, lead sectionQuote, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_anaesthesia, lead section
Spinal anaesthesia, also called spinal block, subarachnoid block, intradural block and intrathecal block, is a form of neuraxial regional anaesthesia involving the injection of a local anaesthetic with or without an opioid into the subarachnoid space.
2. Wikipedia: Spinal Anaesthesia
Wikimedia FoundationHistory section, August Bier sentenceQuote, History section, August Bier sentence
The first planned spinal anaesthesia for surgery on a human was administered by August Bier (1861-1949) on 16 August 1898, in Kiel, when he injected 3 ml of 0.5% cocaine solution into a 34-year-old labourer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who performed the first spinal anesthesia, and how was it tested?
August Bier, in 1898, first on a patient and then on himself and an assistant.
The German surgeon August Bier performed the first spinal anesthesia in 1898. He tried the technique first on a patient, and then, to demonstrate that it was safe, on himself and on an assistant. Today the same approach, injecting a local anesthetic into the cerebrospinal fluid in the lower spine, is used for procedures below the waist such as cesarean delivery and hip or knee replacement, as an alternative to general anesthesia that lets the patient stay conscious. This entry records history and is not medical advice.
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