Side effects epidural anesthesia

The first clinical uses of a local anesthetic agent occurred in 1884, when cocaine was employed as a topical agent for eye surgery and to produce a nerve block. These events inaugurated a new era, that of regional anesthesia. New applications were developed, including spinal, epidural, and caudal anesthesia. The search for a better local anesthetic led to chemical synthesis of a number of other compounds that have more selective local anesthetic properties and few systemic side effects. 

There are, however, some side effects of epidural anesthesia. The patient s legs often become numb, and movement of the leg muscles is difficult. Other mild side effects include a backache (thought to be a result of over-relaxation of the back muscles), itchiness of the skin, and an inability to urinate. More rarely, patients experience headache, lowered blood... 

Fentanyl, sufentanil, and alfentanil are frequently used before anesthesia and surgery as a sedative and analgesic, as well as a continuous infusion for primary anesthesia. Because opioids rarely affect the cardiovascular system, they are particularly useful for cardiac surgery and other high-risk cases. Opioids act directly on spinal cord receptors, and are frequently used in epidurals for spinal anesthesia. Side effects may include nausea and vomiting, itching, and respiratory depression. 

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