epidural anesthesia

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Epidural Anesthesia

Definition: Epidural anesthesia is a medical term that refers to a type of pain relief used during certain medical procedures, especially during childbirth. It involves injecting a special medicine (anesthetic) into the epidural space, which is a part of the spine. This injection helps to block pain in the lower part of the body, including the abdomen and the pelvic area.

Usage Instructions:

• When it's used: Epidural anesthesia is commonly used during labor and delivery to help mothers manage pain. It can also be used for certain surgeries in the lower body.
• Who administers it: A trained medical professional, usually an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, gives the epidural.

Example:

• "The doctor recommended an epidural anesthesia to help manage the pain during childbirth."

Advanced Usage:

• In medical contexts: Epidural anesthesia can be discussed in terms of its effects, such as "providing regional analgesia" or "facilitating pain management during surgical procedures."
• In research: Medical studies may analyze the effectiveness of epidural anesthesia compared to other pain relief methods.

Word Variants:

• Epidural (adjective): Pertaining to the area around the spinal cord.
  • Example: "Epidural injections can help relieve chronic back pain."
• Anesthesia (noun): A general term for medications that block sensation or pain.
  • Example: "General anesthesia is different from epidural anesthesia."

Different Meanings:

• Epidural space: The area surrounding the spinal cord where the anesthetic is injected.
• Anesthetic: The medicine used to block pain sensations.

Synonyms:

• Regional anesthesia: A broader term that includes any anesthesia that affects a specific area of the body.
• Nerve block: A technique that also involves blocking pain signals from specific nerves.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to epidural anesthesia, in medical discussions, you might hear phrases like:
  • "Put to sleep": This usually refers to general anesthesia, but it can sometimes be confused with the effects of an epidural if the patient is relaxed and pain-free.

Summary:

Epidural anesthesia is a specific way to relieve pain in the lower body, often used during childbirth and certain surgeries.

Academic

Noun

1. regional anesthesia resulting from injection of an anesthetic into the epidural space of the spinal cord; sensation is lost in the abdominal and genital and pelvic areas; used in childbirth and gynecological surgery

Synonyms

• epidural anaesthesia
• epidural