r/Anesthesia • u/feministscientist98 • 18h ago
C Section with PTSD
If someone has intense PTSD and doesn’t want to remember their c section would they need general anesthesia or could they be sedated enough with a spinal? Particularly if the feeling of being numb/paralyzed is an issue (and therefore would need said sedation throughout the time the block is still active and making it impossible to walk even after surgery.) I know they try to avoid sedatives until the baby is delivered but if the option is basically either sedate the person to give them amnesia from the start or use general anesthesia what happens? What about if they panic for the prep that occurs in the OR? I know for other surgeries most of that is done after being put under but with c sections you have to wait until the last minute to go under general to minimize exposure to the baby. Could a spouse come in just for the prep part before general anesthesia is given if their presence avoids heavy sedation beforehand? I know they generally aren’t allowed stay when someone is actually out under. I’m not asking for reassurance about c sections. I’m asking how a case like this would actually be handled.