Handbook of Spinal Anesthesia

Dr McClain is a pediatric anesthesiologist who studies various aspects of neuroanesthesia in pediatric patients, including the implementation of novel technology. In addition, he has an interest in the practice of anesthesiology in the developing world. After completion of his fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology, he was recruited by the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Children’s Hospital Boston to fill a leadership role in the development of the world’s first intraoperative MRI OR in a pediatric hospital, where he is the principal investigator reviewing their initial experience with OR, in particular the impact this technology has on intraoperative decision making in pediatric neurosurgical patients. Dr McClain is also interested in ethical issues involved in delivering care to patients in the developing world. He recently won an Excellence in Tutoring award from HMS for his outstanding work. Dr Rajaleelan graduated from the Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, with core expertise and special interests in Neuro, Regional & Thoracic Anaesthesiology and Lung Isolation techniques. As a resident he was awarded the Dr Prabhakar Vissa memorial gold medal for the best outgoing resident in 2012. Having worked as a cardiac anesthesiologist in India, he underwent advanced clinical training fellowships in perioperative/regional anesthesia, advanced neuro anesthesia and simulation at the University of Toronto. He’s currently involved with global health and humanitarian aid with the MSF & ICRC, and pursuing his masters in global health policy from the London school of hygiene & tropical medicine affiliated to the University of London. Dr. Nandakumar is a general surgeon who co-founded the ASHWINI Gudalur Adivasi Hospital, Gudalur, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India, and was its Director from 1990 to 2020. He is the recipient of the Paul Harrison Outstanding Alumnus Award 2005 from his alma mater CMC, Vellore, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery India 2016 Surgical Champion’s Award “Center of Excellence in Surgical Training”, the Humanitarian Award 2018 from the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the Steering Committee for the National Health Mission, Government of India. Jithendranath Krishnan currently works at Vinayaka Hospital, Sulthan Bathery, Kerala and Gudalur Adivasi Hospital, Gudalur,Tamil Nadu, India, providing anaesthesia for a range of surgeries including paediatrics surgery, general surgery, obstetric, gynecology, geriatric surgery and for general laparoscopic surgery. He was previously a Consultant Anesthesiologist at Doctors Hospital, Sulthan Bathery, Kerala, India from 1987-2010. He trained at the Harvard Medical School Simulation Lab for the Spinal Anesthesia Project of the Gudalur Adivasi Hospital, Gudalur, Tamil Nadu in 2019.

1. Introduction
2. Anatomy and physiology
3. Pharmacology
4. Patient selection
5. Pre-operative preparations
6. Technique of performing spinal anaesthesia
7. Patient monitoring
8. Post-operative care
9. Spinal anaesthesia in the obstetric patient
10. Spinal anesthesia in general surgery and specialties
11. Complications of spinal anaesthesia
12. Failed spinal anaesthesia
13. Challenges in performance of spinal blockade
14. Recent advances in spinal anesthesia
15. Conclusion