Before surgery, your child will get a type of anesthesia called an intrathecal injection. The anesthesia doctor will give the injection in your child's back. The medicine goes into the spinal fluid and will numb only the area being operated on.

Why Do Doctors Use Intrathecal Injection?

Doctors use intrathecal anesthesia to help children having surgery on their belly or legs. It can be used in addition to general anesthesia or on its own. Intrathecal anesthesia can help kids recover faster and have less pain after surgery.

Who Can Have an Intrathecal Injection?

This type of anesthesia is ideal for patients of all ages who have short procedures (around 1–1.5 hours) that involve the abdomen and legs.

But some kids can't have intrathecal injections, such as those: 

• with certain bleeding disorders or who take any blood thinning medicines
• who have a skin infection near the area an intrathecal injection would be given

What Are the Risks of Intrathecal Injection?

All types of anesthesia come with some risks. Your health care team will talk to you about these. The risks of intrathecal injection include:

• not enough pain relief (If the doctor thinks your child will need more pain relief, they may give another type of anesthesia.)
• bleeding or infection at the site of the injection (If bleeding happens, the doctor will put pressure on the skin to stop it. To prevent infection, doctors clean the skin carefully before the needle is placed.)
• a headache after surgery that is worse with standing or sitting and improved with lying down
• injury to surrounding nerves, but this is very rare

What Can I Expect After Surgery?

Your child:

• may have some numbness in the legs at first, but this will go away quickly
• will wake up quickly and be eager to drink (Fussiness after the surgery may mean your child wants to eat or be comforted.)
• should be able to urinate (pee) normally soon after the procedure