Explanation
•Epidural anesthesia can cause serious potentially life threatening complications, safe and effective management requires a coordinated multidisciplinary approach. It can cause respiratory depression if opioids are used.
•Side effects of Epidural opioids may include nausea and vomiting, pruritus and delayed maternal depression. The possibility of late respiratory depression exists for up to 24 hours after the administration of an epidural opioid, depending on the duration of action of the drug used.
•Regional pain control methods may be used for intrapartum analgesia, surgical anesthesia or both. These methods provide pain relief without loss of consciousness. Epidural provides pain control during much of labor and for birth itself.