How is epidural analgesia monitored?

Monitoring should include: heart rate and blood pressure; respiratory rate; sedation score; temperature; pain score; degree of motor and sensory block.

What are epidural analgesic contraindications?

Absolute contraindications to performing epidural injections include known hypersensitivity to agents, local or systemic infection, local malignancy, bleeding diathesis, congestive heart failure, and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

What is an important advantage of epidural anesthesia over general anesthesia?

Like most invasive medical treatments it has risks and benefits, but it is generally safe, has significant advantages over general anesthesia, and less anesthetic is needed than with general anesthesia. An epidural causes less stress to the cardiovascular system because there is fewer ups and down with pain relief.

Can an epidural cause swelling?

An epidural abscess results in a pocket of pus that builds up and causes swelling. It can press against your bones and the membranes that protect your spinal cord and your brain (meninges). This swelling and the underlying infection can affect sensations and physical movement and can cause other problems.

What are 2 potential complications from an epidural and nursing interventions to intervene?

The most common complications occurring with epidural analgesia are maternal hypotension and postdural puncture headache. Retrospective studies have demonstrated an association between epidural analgesia and increases in duration of labor, instrumental vaginal delivery and cesarean section for labor.

Which precaution is needed when caring for a patient receiving an epidural analgesia?

Notify the anesthesia provider of any abnormalities, such as drainage, that may indicate CSF or catheter dislodgment. If you suspect a complication related to the epidural analgesia infusion, stop it and contact the anesthesia provider or pain management team immediately.

What are the common medications used for epidural analgesia?

Epidural Analgesia and Anesthesia Bupivacaine and chloroprocaine are the drugs most commonly used, the former providing more prolonged anesthesia but with a greater delay in onset. Combinations of local anesthetics and narcotics also provide excellent analgesia with less motor blockade.

What are the disadvantages of an epidural?

What are the cons of having an epidural?

It can cause low blood pressure.
You may have some side effects.
It may make pushing more difficult.
It may increase your risk for a perineal tear.
Your lower half may be numb for a while after giving birth.
You may have trouble urinating.
Risk of respiratory distress for your baby.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of epidural anesthesia?

Persistent positional headache afterwards, that occasionally requires additional treatment for rapid resolution.
Incomplete epidural nerve block allowing “patches” of discomfort during labor (sometimes requiring replacement of the catheter)

What causes swelling after delivery?

After you give birth, your body gradually eliminates this fluid through urine and sweat. But in the meantime, it can continue to leak from your blood vessels into your tissue and cause swelling (edema), most commonly in your hands and feet or ankles. Postpartum edema should go away in about a week.