What is a significant risk associated with regional anesthesia?

Regional anesthesia involves the injection of anesthetic agents near major nerves or within a specific region of the body to induce a loss of sensation in that area. The significant risks associated with this technique primarily include hematoma formation, nerve injury, and infection.

Hematoma formation can occur if a blood vessel is inadvertently punctured during the injection, leading to a localized collection of blood. Nerve injury, while rare, can happen if the anesthetic needle or catheter inadvertently damages a nerve or if there is direct trauma from the injection process. Infection is another pertinent risk, as any invasive procedure can introduce pathogens, especially if sterile techniques are compromised.

While the other options list potential complications, they are not as directly associated with regional anesthesia. Excessive sedation is more related to general anesthesia or sedative medications. Immediate allergic reactions to anesthetics are uncommon and could occur with any form of anesthesia but are not a specific risk of regional techniques. Hypothermia is not a direct risk linked to regional anesthesia practices; rather, it might result from prolonged surgery or environment, regardless of the type of anesthesia used.