says Ashish Sinha, MD, PhD, DABA, MBA, FASA, a professor at the
University of California Riverside, and designated institutional official
and program director of anesthesiology at UC Riverside/Riverside
Community Hospital.
Interestingly, the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to an increase in
administrations of spinal anesthesia — even among patients
averse to the technique. The reason? Intubation for general anes-
thesia is inherently dangerous and should be avoided unless
absolutely necessary — especially with an unchecked virus
spreading that has no vaccine or cure.
"When you administer a general anesthetic, as opposed to a spinal
anesthetic, you have to put a breathing tube in the patients' trachea,
which is an aerosolizing procedure," says Dr. Sinha. "Anything from
the lungs of that patient, including viruses, may be released into the
air of the room and land on any surface, including exposed skin or
mucous membranes." That, of course, presents a risk of viral expo-
sure to the OR staff.
"Patients may be easier to convince or medical providers may push
a little harder for spinal anesthesia in the post-COVID-19 future," says
Dr. Sinha. "The most important thing is consistent messaging. If the
surgeons, anesthesiologists and nursing staff are all saying the same
thing — 'In your case, spinal anesthesia is the best way' — then
patients are more likely to respond to that message."
Dr. Li says postoperative side effects of spinal anesthesia are
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 6 5
Patients may be easier to convince
in the post-COVID future.
Ashish Sinha, MD, PhD, DABA, MBA, FASA
