X
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
EnglishFilipino
Product GuideSign in
  • Building a BakuNation
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy
    • Delivery
    • Losing a Baby
    • Project Sidekicks
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler Years
    • Preschool Age
    • Kids
    • Preteen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • News
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diseases & Injuries
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • K-12
    • Special Education Needs
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Celebrities
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Home
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
    • Money
  • Become a VIP
  • COVID-19
  • Press Room
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023

What are the complications involved in an epidural?

6 Apr, 2018

Mom, the pain of childbirth can make you value an epidural as a scientific miracle. With it, labor pains are eased to a great extent. But that is if the epidural is well-administered. Unfortunately, an epidural gone wrong can be worse than a nightmare. So, what do you need to be warned about before going for an epidural?

Epidural gone wrong: How often does this happen?

One of the more recent horrifying stories that we learned about of an epidural gone wrong was where the mom was paralyzed below the pelvic region. In another incident, the needle was stuck in the mom’s spine for 14 years. But these kinds of problems don’t occur often, explain the experts.

Expert’s opinion

Dr James Lozada is the Obstetric Anesthesiologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He shares: “In general, it is extremely rare for a spinal or epidural needle to break. And even more rare for fragments to remain in the body. That has been reported less than five times in medical literature.”

Further, he also shares that: “Labor epidurals have greatly improved the safety of obstetric care. They provide excellent pain relief for millions of women each year. The chances of a broken needle being left in your back are exceedingly low. So, that should not deter you from having an epidural if that’s your desire.”

What do statistics reveal?

A study was conducted that analyzed data from the Anesthesia Quality Institute’s National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. The research considered 80,000 women who went through an epidural or spinal anesthesia at the time of labor. Of these, less than three percent of women suffered complications. So, the statistics paint a picture of how an epidural is a safe procedure in normal circumstances.

Nevertheless, an epidural gone wrong can cause some complications that you should be aware of.

Complications that may arise due to an epidural gone wrong

epidural gone wrong

Complications of an epidural gone wrong | Image: file image

 

1. Your blood pressure could drop

One of the most common problems that you may face in case of an epidural is a blood pressure drop. When the blood pressure drops it can also affect the blood flow to your baby. The American Pregnancy Association shares that in such cases, the mom is treated with IV fluids, oxygen, and possibly medications. Dr Lozada explains that he always talks about this with the patients.

2. You could suffer an inadvertent dural puncture or a ‘Wet Tap’

When the epidural needle accidentally punctures the membrane that covers your spinal cord, you could get an inadvertent dural puncture, also known as a ‘Wet Tap.’ This lets the spinal fluid leak out. The American Society of Anaesthesiologists explains that this can lead to terribly intense headaches. A procedure called a “blood patch” is used to treat the problem. This includes injecting your own blood into the hole. When the blood clots, the hole seals itself, preventing the fluid from leaking. The chances of this happening are as low as one percent in epidural deliveries.

3. You may contract infections

Dr Lozada explains that infections are not at all common. A study revealed that spinal epidural abscess formation took place only in 506,000 cases. Firstly, the needles in use are sterile. Secondly, prior to the insertion, your skin is cleaned with antiseptics. But this is considered to be a potential risk because whenever there’s an opening, it’s creating ground for bacteria to thrive. And the spine is directly connected to your brain. So, as rare as it may be, an infection to your spinal cord can be a risk to your life.

4. You may get fever

William Camann, M.D. is the director of obstetric anesthesia at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He shares: “With first births, about 20 percent of mothers have an elevated temperature, because the first birth is usually the longest.” As explained by Camann, labor can go on for long time. And when an epidural is used for six hours or more, it can lead to fever. In such cases, mom and baby have to undergo a few tests and you may both receive an antibiotic treatment.

5. You may damage your nerves

While nerve damage sounds rather scary, Dr Lozada explains that nerve damage during epidural doesn’t last long. He says: “There’s a very small chance of nerve injury.This is almost always temporary, lasting a couple weeks.” Most often, this kind of damage will pass soon. However, in rare cases it may not even pass. But this is so rare that finding any statistical details for this is difficult.

Apart from these problems, you may also face minor issues like itchiness and nausea. But these are more of a passing phase.

 

Sources: Romper, WebMD

ALSO READ: Tay Kwei reveals her epidural story

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore

Partner Stories
Next-Gen Ford Everest: 6 Reasons Why This Is Your Family's Next Dream Car!
Next-Gen Ford Everest: 6 Reasons Why This Is Your Family's Next Dream Car!
Gut Health and Probiotic Survival Rate
Gut Health and Probiotic Survival Rate
Evelyn Ng, P&G high ranking executive, shares her story as a career woman and a working mom
Evelyn Ng, P&G high ranking executive, shares her story as a career woman and a working mom
Creating an Absolute-ly Merry Christmas
Creating an Absolute-ly Merry Christmas

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Prutha Soman

Become a Contributor

  • Home
  • /
  • Lifestyle Section
  • /
  • What are the complications involved in an epidural?
Share:
  • Mom paralyzed after being injected with skin-cleanser instead of epidural

    Mom paralyzed after being injected with skin-cleanser instead of epidural

  • Broken epidural needle found in mom's spine 14 years later

    Broken epidural needle found in mom's spine 14 years later

  • 10 parenting mistakes kung bakit lumalaking hindi close ang bata sa magulang

    10 parenting mistakes kung bakit lumalaking hindi close ang bata sa magulang

  • Dani Barretto sa speech delay ng kaniyang daughter: “Kahit ano pa siya, mamahalin ko siya.”

    Dani Barretto sa speech delay ng kaniyang daughter: “Kahit ano pa siya, mamahalin ko siya.”

  • Mom paralyzed after being injected with skin-cleanser instead of epidural

    Mom paralyzed after being injected with skin-cleanser instead of epidural

  • Broken epidural needle found in mom's spine 14 years later

    Broken epidural needle found in mom's spine 14 years later

  • 10 parenting mistakes kung bakit lumalaking hindi close ang bata sa magulang

    10 parenting mistakes kung bakit lumalaking hindi close ang bata sa magulang

  • Dani Barretto sa speech delay ng kaniyang daughter: “Kahit ano pa siya, mamahalin ko siya.”

    Dani Barretto sa speech delay ng kaniyang daughter: “Kahit ano pa siya, mamahalin ko siya.”

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Baby Names
    • Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Advice for Parenting Kids
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Local celebs
    • Celebrities
    • Money
    • News
  • FAMILY & HOME
    • Couples
    • Weekend & Holiday Guide
    • Health
  • Building a BakuNation
    • More
      • TAP Community
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us
      • Become a Contributor


    • Singapore flag Singapore
    • Thailand flag Thailand
    • Indonesia flag Indonesia
    • Philippines flag Philippines
    • Malaysia flag Malaysia
    • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
    • India flag India
    • Vietnam flag Vietnam
    • Australia flag Australia
    • Japan flag Japan
    • Nigeria flag Nigeria
    • Kenya flag Kenya
    © Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
    About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
    • Tools
    • Articles
    • Feed
    • Poll

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    theAsianparent heart icon
    Nais naming magpadala ng notification sa'yo tungkol sa latest news at lifestyle update.