I'm a med student interested in anesthesiology who loves your videos. I just finished my anesthesia rotation and had an absolute blast! It's such a unique specialty that has so much more freedom and complex decision making than some people realize. Compared to EM especially, it feels both more intellectually stimulating and weirdly creative. I'd love to see you do some higher-level videos if you feel like it for us physiology and pharmacology nerds! A sincere thanks for all of the effort you put into these! 💉

I am a mom and just now finding out that an epidural isn’t just a shot. I can’t believe I actually had a small tube in my back!! I am pregnant with my 2nd and I wanted to educate myself. Thank you for this video!

I'm not a med student or have anything to do with medicine myself really, but you explain in such a captivating manner that I watched the entire video with my full attention and I have severe ADD lol. Just trying to express how amazing of a job you're doing making educational videos!

At this point, you're probably the only MD I would allow to medicate me via spinal or epidural. Great video and awesome technique!

I love your sense of humor. Also I'd like to mention if you're getting one, as I did for a c-section, DON'T MOVE. Don't so much as BLINK.

Very interesting thanks for teaching about epidurals.

As a pharmacist I enjoyed both technical and pharmacologic aspects you provided in your videos 👌👌

I had a csf leak repair in my skull and then a lumbar drain placed for about a week while I healed. Fascinating to see more about this! :)

This was really cool to watch. I got an epidural after being in labor for 2 days, and in the middle of contractions. Once i was numb, i told the anesthesiologist i loved him. Totally worth it!

This was such an amazing explanation of how each type of procedure works! I had an epidural when I had my c-section and nobody explained anything to me before delivery day. (I didn't even know they put in a catheter till they said it was time to take it out) I was told to bend over my massive twin belly and hug the nurse and tell them when I couldn't take the pain anymore. I have a high pain threshold so I was so worried that if I told them when it was really, really painful it may have gone too far. I trusted all the doctors, but it was my first surgery, delivery, massive needle in my back...I was really scared. I'd literally never broken a bone or had stitches or even a cavity filled before having my girls so I had no idea what to expect. For people who can handle it, this is what they need to show moms-to-be so they know what's going on back there!

Hi Max - - Re: SENIORS, please discuss the benefit of Epidurals over Generals, whenever possible, and the role of Generals in post surgical confusion, cognitive decline and/or dementia.

Anaesthetics is a fascinating subject. As a teenager, many years ago, I had a 1944 copy of Pye's Surgical Handicraft. In the anaesthesia chapter, only four anaesthetic agents were discussed there was nothing else: ether, chloroform (inhalation) and sodium pentothal and sodium evipan (iv ). The speciality has advanced immesurably!

Had a spinal for my C-section, birth, and tubal ligation. Blessed are the anesthesiologists!

I am an anesthesia technology intern, and these videos are very helpful !! So thanks for that. Also, I would really like to see caudal anesthesia as I didn’t get the chance to see it yet

Dr. Feinstein, Thanks for another great video! Always learning something and you explain it so well.

I wish the team for my 2nd C-section had your training! 3 residents tried 7 times to get it then gave up and got the attending. They kept doing the lidocaine shot before each try too. So, in all it was 8 lidocaine and 8 tries for the spinal. They made my leg kick (but yelled at me to be still) several shocks in my thighs and toes. Thank goodness for the nurse who told them they were doing all of that. It never did work, I felt almost every and they finally believed me when my legs were moving during the C-section/tubal and my OB told them to give me something through my IV to put me almost under. My whole low back had a huge bruise after. Since then we found out my discs were completely collapsed from degeneration and I've had a couple of fusions. So, I understand it wasn't normal anatomy but I think they should have given up after maybe 5 or 6 tries.

Just had a scheduled C-section and this gave me the chills. They tried 3 different times to get the block in place...4th times the charm. I was crying by the time they finally got the spinal block 😭😭

It is one of the best demonstrations of spinal & epidural anaesthesia I've seen. Thanks a lot.

CSEs are a cornerstone of my ortho days. It still blows my just how much anesthesia can be provided with a 9 cm needle and a couple milliliters of local anesthetic. Great explanation, technique, and visuals, Dr. Feinstein. I also find it helpful to mark the apex of the interspace of with my thumbnail.

WOW !!!...much , much respect to all of you doctors who help us when much needed, THANK-YOU SO VERY MUCH DR. FEINSTEIN , BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL !!

You Doc. You do a fantastic job on explaining certain anesthesia procedures on KZfaq. By you doing this helps take the stress off of patients minds before going to surgery. The reason I know so much about this is because I used to work in surgery for quite a while. I worked at Wayne Memorial Hospital for 36 years most of those years was spent working in the surgery so I watched and held patients in place for spinal epidurals, spinal blocks for surgery. Not only did I learn so much I miss working in surgery. I also worked in EMS for almost 26 or 27 years. I did 10 and half years as a volunteer EMS, then ,10 years as being a paid for The Goldsboro Fire Department in Goldsboro NC. You have done a great job of explaining what anesthesia actually does. Thank You

I'm astonished with what I see that I went through during my gastric resection due to excessive tumors and subsequently the paresis. I just discovered your channel and found it extremely beneficial.

The work that you are doing is excellent, teaching wise and surely it must be a reflection of how effectively you practice medicine. Thanks doc 👍🏼

Coming back to this 2 years later - just matched to Anesthesiology myself!! Hopefully our paths will cross somehow. Huge fan! 🤩

I’m new to anesthesia and today I assisted a blood patch. 24hr post-partum with a headache. I was in awe to see our patient experience nearly immediate relief 😮 the entire procedure was amazing!

Thank you for taking the mystery out of my pain treatments!

Max or rather dr. Maxfield I appreciated the subject matter of this video. It helped me appreciate truly the epidural that I had with my gastric resection due to excessive reoccurring tumors in my stomach. My team did a epidural for my gastric resection and I couldn't believe how painless the entire process was. I didn't even realize that I was given shot in the back to be honest let alone the entire procedure of inserting the epidural. It made the entire procedure and healing inside the hospital completely painless.

This was an educational how it works with details. Thanks!

Heading into a TKR soon. This great video really helps me understand what will happen during the procedure. Thanks! 👍🏼

Thank you so so much for your effort in making this video (and also the others). I learnt so much and actually understood the concept behind each steps. - Anaesthesiology resident from Malaysia. 🇲🇾

Dr. Max, Your videos are so incredibly interesting. Thank you for sharing some of your knowledge with us!

I had a spinal for a c-section and had a weird reaction that made me shiver/muscle spasm through the whole procedure. The Anesthesiologist was wonderful about talking me through it and keeping me calm.

Ever since I had a spinal to prep me for the emergency forceps delivery of my son, I’ve had progressively worse arthritic, burning type pain, with unusual numbness. For about 4 months post delivery I had constant, excruciating headache, that was far and away the worst headache of my life. I did what I had to do to deliver my son safely, alhamduillah. I would really appreciate it, Dr. Max, if you could talk about potential complications of spinals/epidurals, and the treatment. Thanks!

I really appreciate this video after having a spinal for my hip replacement.it helped give me a clearer picture of what was done. Great video, thank you.

I appreciate the amazing detail, easiness to follow, and great editing. Thank you!

Having had 3 epidurals I found this very interesting to watch, thanks Dr. Feinstein

Thank you for your videos Max they're filmed very professionally and very informative. As an MS3 who wants to match anesthesiology, and currently on my OB anes rotation, your videos help refresh my anatomy knowledge and help prep for procedures! Your attention to detail and thorough-ness are what id expect from an anesthesiologist! One thing I noticed was that during the spinal demo at 9:09, you mentioned that after you punctured the ligamentum flavum, you'd expect to see CSF. I believe you'd need to advance to also puncture dura to achieve a spinal and get CSF, correct?

thank you so much for these videos. production quality is insane and j think you’ve convinced me to pursue medicine.

Great video! It’s not a matter of if but when I’ll eventually need a knee replacement for my bad knee (bad joints run in both sides of my family and there has been/will be roughly 8-9 knee replacements between six different family members from both sides) so this was very helpful info as I’ve never had surgery before unless you count the stitches I had when I was two to reattach my nose that I cut on a stamp box I was playing with when I tripped and fell. (I might eventually have skin removal surgery from my 85 Lb. weight loss four years ago but building my house comes first so that doesn’t count right now).

I’ve had two gynae ops, 2 ankle arthroscopies and one ankle replacement all by spinal - they are the best! You don’t get the general anaesthetic hangover and you can talk to the Drs and Nurses! If they get sick of you they madazolam you into oblivion😅 The OR has been my work place for years and I feel comfortable with the technology and going’s on! Thanks Dr Max love your educational videos.

I appreciate this video so much. I hate needles with a burning passion and this kind of helps

Great videos, always loved working with anesthesiologist

Fascinating video. You explained everything so well. Thank you.

I saw this done on my wife when she was in labour for my son. I have never been more in awe of a medical procedure than watching the anesthesiologist perform this.

Please do a video on art lines. Your content is amazingly well explained you definitely inspire me to persevere. thank you.

I always thought that these were all the same thing! Thanks for clarification!

This is very helpful. I'm due to have one of these on Tuesday, and it's nice to know what it actually entails.

Thank you for the wonderfully informative and fascinating video. I had an epidural during my first labour, which worked for about 45min and then stopped providing the necessary pain relief. After several top-ups, they had to stop giving medication as i was becoming numb up to chest level, despite not getting pain relief. When finally i was taken for a c-section, i was terrified that a spinal would likewise not provide pain relief, but fortunately it worked almost instantly. I had 3 subsequent c-sections and each time the spinal anasthesia was the longest and most complicated (and most painful) part, taking almost an hour with my second csection. Besides from severe swelling due to weight etc, they believed that anatomical issues with my spine may have complicated the siting of the needle (perhaps related to the problems with the epidual from my first labour??) In any case, i have had 4 spinals for 4 csections, rather traumatic experiences. Watching this video, although really interesting, was a bit of an uncomfortable reminder of what i was experiencing each of those times. All that aside, many thanks again!

I love this Man so much. He is the person I want in my corner.

this was so comprehensive and detailed... i feel like i could give an epidural or a spinal right now!

I almost cried while watching this. It's beautiful 🥺. Can't wait to be an anesthesiologist

Hi Max! Can you briefly touch on your typical contraindications for lumbar puncture? How frequently do you observe the optic disc with an ophthalmoscope for instance?

Great video man! I really enjoyed it! I always learn a lot from your videos! You rock!! I’m gonna start Donating to the Anesthesiologist Foundation in June since It was hard for me to go to college to be a Anesthesiologist after I graduated high school in 08 because of my cerebral palsy! I have had 14 surgeries because of my cerebral palsy! Those needles 💉 are very cool

I’ve had both a spinal and epidural anaesthetics. I remember having a headache after the epidural. Very grateful for these anaesthetics at the time. Great video.

Hi Dr Max! Great video! I love to learn from you! I have had about 20 epidurals due to 3 bulged disks and degeneration. I have always had a general anesthetic. I once asked about going without the general (because you are limited for 24 hours afterward) and they told me they could but it was very painful. So I didn’t try it. I now have a spinal cord stimulator but I still get an occasional set of epidurals. I don’t think the stimulator is that great. My doctor pushes them but I know some doctors won’t see you if you have one. Also you can’t get an MRI in Texas if you have a stimulator. Thanks for being so detailed in this video! See you on the next one!

I wish I had had an explanation before having my son. I had a c-section and the epidural fell out and I had a window where I felt the pain and lots of gas was given to ease the pain. That didn't work too well. You seem so intelligent in your area of expertise.

Thank you for this! I had one of these done last month in the UK, this video was very interesting.

Great video. Other content ideas that I would love to see.. tutorials for: double-lumen, fiberoptic intubations, central line, nasal intubations, (I could really make this list go on for a while lol but I think those are the most ideal).

I’m getting knee replacement surgery soon & been told I will be having a spinal anaesthetic plus sedation. This video has been very helpful. This video h

What’s the highest opening pressure you’ve had from an LP? Great video Dr Feinstein.

I e had several back surgeries and now I have DDD and Osteoporosis. I have injections several times a year. Sometimes I have better relief of pain but then there’s times that I don’t. I’m a 61 yr old lady and it’s getting harder and harder to get any good relief. I really enjoyed your video.

great demonstrations, thank you .

Dr.Max Feinstein, I’ve watched quit a few of your videos and it has helped me to understand the way things happen so people other than Dr.’s can understand what happens. You do such an amazing and clear job of explaining all the different steps that a patient can expect to have happen. You also say if anyone has any questions to drop you a line. So first let me say I live in Ontario, Canada and I don’t know how different the steps and or medication’s used to put me under will differ between the USA and Ontario, Canada. So first let me say I have ABSOLUTELY 0% of having any kind of French in my DNA or bloodline going back generations on either side of my parents and their ancestors. So I’m 38 years old and I have a condition that is an Anesthesiologist Nightmare called Malignant Hyperthermia or M.H for short. I of course wear a medic alert necklace. I only mention the French bloodline because I’ve been told from several different Anesthesiologist that typically it is found in people that have French in their bloodline. However I was wondering if you could explain the different processes of putting a regular patient to sleep versus putting a patient to sleep who has Malignant Hyperthermia. I’m looking to know the steps and procedures and the process from the Anesthesiologist point of view from the time that they come and introduce themselves to the patient on the day of surgery prior to going in the Operating Room to how they are put to sleep and during the operation to waking the patient up. I know the response will not be super down to the exact way of things as you don’t know my current medication or height and weight and overall information about me that you would need to know. I’ve tried to ask questions from each time that I’ve had surgery but any of the Anesthesiologist that I’ve had are always to much in a hurry to answer my questions. The only thing I know about having Malignant Hyperthermia is that I have to be the first patient of the day that’s operated on with that specific Dr that the Anesthesiologist is working with that day and right after they put the oxygen mask over my face just seconds before they put whatever drugs in the IV to put me to sleep is that they roll the crash cart right beside my head and turn it on. They do all that while I’m still awake and that’s the last thing I see before they put me under, as if having surgery isn’t already scary enough knowing I have a condition that is scary when being put to sleep but to have to view that crash cart being rolled right beside me and then turned on as the last thing I witness is way more frightening and they wonder why my heart beat increases as their doing that. I don’t even know what Malignant Hyperthermia is as to how it affects a patient or the definition. I don’t know if I’m allowed to leave my email address or not but I’m going to try that way hopefully I get a response. elvis0310@hotmail.com

Maybe it's a spinal they said I would have while having my knees replaced. And what you just said about where the spinal is placed makes me feel a lot better about possibly having a spinal. I've never known that before! Thanks 😊

I'm doing Bachelor in Anesthesia Technology, Max your video creation and anesthesia related techniques are so impressive 😍

Please help answer this question. You are such a fine teacher! and I am so very grateful the Mt. Sinai Hospital provides such wonderful support that allows this very informative program. QUESTION: I watched a PA do an epidural! I was absolutely floored because I thought that it was something strictly for a physician . Can a PA do this?

i had a epidural after my scoliosis surgery no clue where abouts on my back it was tho lol but it was really cool to see how they did it as i was under general anesthesia at the time

God this guy explains everything so well. Would love to work as a CRNA with him :D

It's good to know where the spinal cord ends and where the injections are done. I'd always wondered about that and if offered a spinal or epidural I would have been hesitant to say "yes". Although I assume the person doing the procedure would explain that to me when I showed hesitancy it's nice to know in advance.

Thank you Dr. I am very interested in this. I like learning new things, even tough this is just for my own information

Thank you, very clear & concise

"Stinging" was not what I felt during the insertion of the local. It was as if a flame was relentlessly applied to the skin on my back (pain level 10/10)! I'm glad to read that my experience was likely the exception. As others have stated, no explanation was offered for anything. I was told to lie on my side, curl up, and hold still. Thankfully I had the sense to do a bit of research prior. I'm not sure what they hit but my top leg involuntarily twitched rather dramatically. I was again told to lie still, but I stated that the leg twitch was their fault, not mine. After finishing the mysterious (at the time) activities, I was told to roll onto my back and observe the progress of the numbness as it rose from my toes on up. Meanwhile, I watched my obgyn scrub, gave him a thumbs-up through the window, and the C-section proceeded. Nobody explained that there'd be a urinary catheter inserted, resulting in more pain once sensation returned. After my son was properly extracted, he was hauled away and I was knocked out as per my prior request. I awoke hours later, was handed my son, and instantly realized why no one in their right mind would opt for a C-section if it can possibly be avoided (mine couldn't as the lad's head was too large to fit through). I literally patted down the sheets next to me (I'd been lying on my side in bed), fully expecting to find my reproductive system lying there based on what I felt. As bad as that pain was, it wasn't as bad as the burning that I felt when the local was administered.

I'm wondering as a curious nurse. Is it a possible occurence to miss a combined spinal/epidural and deliver the epidural through the arachnoidian space by mistake? Thanks for your videos :) love them!

I have often wondered how tge anaestiologist would know how far to go for an epidural. So this explanation was rwally interesting. Thanks

Very instructive. When puncturing the dura, I think you said "bevel up". Since the longitudinal fibers of the dura would then more likely be severed by the needle, are you concerned that post-spinal headache might be more likely than if the needle were placed with the bevel vertical? I assume that the specific gravity of the anesthetic may determine the level of spinal anesthesia. If so, how then do you control this should the pt. have to be positioned unexpectedly in a position unfavorable for anesthetic agent drift?

Woow it was a really intersting video. I ever seen in my life!! Thank you doctor for such interesting experince.

I have a permanent Epidural with 2 lines feeding the Fentanyl and Bupivacaine from a pump located inside me called a Medtronics intrathecal pain pump. I have a constant flow of medication and a remote bolus device that I can use to give me more medication at set intervals for pain relief. It gets refilled about every 30 days. It is about the size of a small hamburger, located in the right side of my abdomen. This has been a great help for chronic pain due to a spinal injury. I have a 5 level fusion at my lower lumbar with discs removed Anterior posterior interbody fusion 360. I have permanent nerve damage, but can walk now. Fusion was done by Dr, Tiffany Perry at Cedars Sinai and pump was implanted by Dr. Leo Langlois in Bakersfield, Ca.

I've had two of these. I never felt it going in at all! I also was feeling insane contractions. So thats a good distraction.

Hi...thank you for this interesting vidéo. Can you please share with us how to calculate the depth of the catheter we have to advence depending of patients tall ..(sorry for my English..I hope you understand my question)

Thanks Max, great education

Very well explained

This is super cool to watch. I'm starting clerkship soon and with only 2 weeks of anesthesia core rotation, your videos will really help make the most of it!! 😅😅😅

I remember that headache very well. It was the headache from hell. They were doing a epidural for child birth, and went to far and wound up giving me spinal. Child birth had nothing on that headache. After 3days of caffeine loading to try to get it to stop or ease the pain. The cure ironically enough is another epidural.

Gosh your center should send u to places to teach the method. So why does the pt have to be awake for this?if the pt developed a spinal headache and needs a blood patch. Does it mean placemats was wrong or thhat the little hole didn't seal ?

I had a total hysterectomy at Christmas 21. My uterus was so large I had to have a vertical abdominal cut. I had full anesthesia and I asked for an epidural. My surgeon had the anesthesiologist put one in and after my surgery the epidural was kept in place 24 hrs. The day after my surgery and the 6 days I was in the hospital I had a pain level around a 2 and only had tylenol. I was so happy how smooth it went together with the full anesthesia. I enjoy your videos very much. I had 2 epidurals with my c sections and was great to be awake for the birth of my children. That must be so challenging with women in labor and can't bend forward well due to the baby. Have you ever had one of these procedures?

I had this done ended up with a headache, also couldn’t move my legs or feel them for 3 days thank you so mad thought I was going mad

Hi Dr. Feinstein, Could you please explain why people get a post spinal headache with certain needles and how a blood patch works?

How similar is this to the spinal cord stimulator trial I conducted prior to permanent implant?

I love your video you are very very professional the video is awesome you spoke very very clear and very very professional keep up the great work I thank you and it helped me a lot my name is Shani

Love, love your channel!❤❤

Brilliant. Thank you!

This was a great video! I feel like I probably should have had the combined epidural and spinal during my 3rd and last c-section, but I was given a spinal. I was having my tubes tied as well. They show me my baby briefly and then they whisked her off to do her examination... all of a sudden, I am in so much pain... The anesthesiologist and my OBGYN start arguing, I hear someone say that I'm losing a lot of blood, and I start crying because this just does not feel right... then my anesthesiologist says to me, "don't worry, I'm going to stop the pain..." and I'm out like a light. I wake up in recovery and find out that I had the most adhesions my OBGYN had ever seen and had to slice through my bladder to get to my baby. My uterus was also super thin and kept ripping back open when he was stitching it up... he said it was a good thing I got my tubes tied because he would not recommend me having any more children. I spent 6 days in the hospital getting bladder scans and I had a jp drain in my abdomen and a catheter for days. Luckily, my bladder healed nicely.

I find your videos very interesting and educational. The blue skin needle is a 25 gauge though I believe. A 27 should be gray.

WOW ! Amazing video brother ! Had not seen it. Keep it up !!!!

I have a condition called adhesive arachnoiditis, which was possibly caused by epidural injections and the inadvertent puncture of the dura during the procedure. How do you prevent or lessen the possibility of this happening?

Giving SAB before epidural can cause sadle/partial block in sitting position as you have to keep the pt in sitting position for catheter placement. What i do i give epidural 1st then i give spinal one space bellow. Pt gets two prick but its good for long run.

Great video!! Dr Max, I had a lumbar tap done but afterwards, I developed severe headache and it was found I had a CSF leak. I had to get a "blood patch" done to "plug the hole." It worked. Can you please explain why this would happen, and how does a "blood patch" work? Thank you!

Thank you for the information. The epidural was one of the worst parts of my after birth issues. I felt pain regularly and could tell you exactly where they placed the epidural. In fact, I had pain at the point of the epidural for at least 5 years. I wish you had been the individual who had given me my epidural. The woman I had no bedside manner and seemed angry at me for wanting to get one after all.

Have you used ultrasound for complex spinals and epidurals?

Thanks for another great video!