Generally speaking, spinal anaesthesia is an option for surgery of under two hours duration to:

• The lower limbs
• The perineum
• The pelvis and pelvic organs
• The lower abdomen, particularly the abdominal wall

This encompasses obstetric procedures, including caesarean section, considered in detail in the session Module 04a/Regional analgesia & anaesthesia/Regional Analgesia 3 Technique - Spinal/CSE Anaesthesia (001-0378).

Surgery to the upper abdomen and above is not normally carried out under spinal anaesthesia (although it is achievable in expert hands).