An anaesthesia resident was giving spinal anaesthesia when the patient had sudden aphonia and loss of consciousness. What could have happened?
High-Yield Explanation
Development of sudden aphonia and loss of consciousness while giving spinal anaesthesia (during injection of spinal anaesthesia) suggest the diagnosis of vaso-vagal attack. It often occurs in young, nervours and anxious patients during injection in a sitting position. It is characterized by sudden and transient loss of consciousness.
Total/high spinal anestheria occurs immediately after injection (not during injection). Further total spinal anesthesia has a dramatic course with non-recordable BP, respiratory arrest, longer time required to resolve the symptoms.