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Local anaesthesia and sedation Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, April 2009.

Answers to questions about local anaesthesia and sedation

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

I am pregnant - is local anaesthesia suitable for me?

Yes. Local anaesthesia is usually used wherever possible because general anaesthesia can affect your developing baby.

Explanation

If you need anaesthesia during your pregnancy, your doctor will usually recommend local or regional (also called epidural or spinal) anaesthesia. A local or regional anaesthetic completely blocks feeling from the area and you will stay awake during the procedure. A general anaesthetic means you will be asleep during the procedure.

A local anaesthetic is safe for you to have if you're pregnant, but only in small doses. If you need a higher dose, your doctor may recommend you have a regional anaesthetic instead.

It's possible that local anaesthetic, antisickness drugs or painkillers may be expressed in your breast milk if you're breastfeeding. So, it's best not to breastfeed while you're taking these medicines.

If you need to have a general anaesthetic, you may be advised to wait until the second trimester (weeks 13 to 26) of your baby's development or after you have given birth. This reduces the risk to your unborn baby.

Further information

Sources

  • Arulkumaran S, Symonds IM, Fowlie A. Oxford Handbook of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004:352-354
  • Allman KG, Wilson IH. Oxford Handbook of Anaesthesia. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006:748
  • Bailey DN, Briggs JR. The binding of acetaminophen, lidocaine, and valproic acid to human milk. Am J Clin Pathol 2004; 121:754-757. www.ajcp.com
  • Personal communication, Dr Graeme Sanders, FRCA, Spire Alexandra Hospital, 22 January 2009
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My child gets very anxious - will sedatives help?

Sedatives can be helpful for children (and adults) who get anxious or nervous. However, alternatives are used wherever possible because sedatives have a greater effect on children.

Explanation

Sedatives aren't usually given to children because it's harder to control the level of sedation. Sometimes it's necessary to give children a sedative before an operation or procedure, for example if your child:

  • is extremely nervous or upset
  • has had a bad experience of anaesthesia or surgery
  • is claustrophobic

If your child is being sedated, he/she must follow fasting instructions. Typically your child must not eat for six hours and must not drink for two hours before sedation.

Wherever possible it's preferable to use alternatives to sedation. For painless procedures your child's doctor may use behavioural techniques that don't involve any medicines, such as distraction (eg breathing exercise), parent involvement and play therapy.

If your child will be having a painful procedure, the doctors may try behavioural techniques as well as local anaesthesia. Alternatively, general anaesthesia may be used to control his/her pain.

For more advice about sedation for children, talk to your doctor.

Sources

  • Safe sedation of children undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), 2004, guideline 58. www.sign.ac.uk
  • Allman KG, Wilson IH. Oxford Handbook of Anaesthesia. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006:773
  • Safe sedation of children undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, section 3: sedation techniques. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). 2004. www.sign.ac.uk
  • Personal communication, Dr Graeme Sanders, FRCA, Spire Alexandra Hospital, 22 January 2009
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I have lots of allergies - will I react to the anaesthetic?

It's not possible to predict exactly who will have a reaction to an anaesthetic but some things such as food allergies or asthma make it more likely.

Explanation

When you have an anaesthetic you will be exposed to a number of substances that can cause an allergic reaction. This includes the drugs used for your anaesthesia as well as other medicines used during your procedure, cleaning products and latex gloves.

All of these can cause an allergic reaction, the most severe of which is called anaphylaxis. It's not known what causes some people to react while others don't, but there are things that make you more likely to have a reaction.

  • Women are more likely to suffer from a severe allergic reaction than men.
  • If you're allergic to fruit and nuts, you're more likely to suffer from a latex allergy.
  • If you have asthma or lots of other allergies, you're more likely to have a severe reaction.

It's not known exactly how frequently severe reactions occur during anaesthesia. Estimates suggest it may be between one in 10,000 and one in 20,000 operations using anaesthetic. The risk of death from a severe reaction is much lower than this.

If you suffer from allergies, tell your doctor before you have an anaesthetic. Your anaesthetist will choose the medicines for you based on your medical history and current health. All doctors and nurses are trained to recognise the signs of a serious reaction and how to deal with it.

Further information

Sources

  • Risks associated with your anaesthetic section 9: serious allergy during an anaesthetic (anaphylaxis). Royal College of Anaesthetists, 2006. www.rcoa.ac.uk
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Related topics

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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: April 2009

Local anaesthesia and sedation factsheet

 

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