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What are the risks associated with epidural anesthesia misplacement/ dural puncture?

8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Orrin Ailloni-Charas
Anesthesiology
2 doctors agree

In brief: The risks of epidura

Placed incorrectly include headache, high spinal, intravascular injection, and non-functional epidural.
Your anesthesiologist will test the catheter and watch it set up. Most of these concerns will be eliminated at that time.

In brief: The risks of epidura

Placed incorrectly include headache, high spinal, intravascular injection, and non-functional epidural.
Your anesthesiologist will test the catheter and watch it set up. Most of these concerns will be eliminated at that time.
Dr. Orrin Ailloni-Charas
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Dr. Orrin Ailloni-Charas
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Dr. Tarek Shahbandar
Anesthesiology
1 doctor agrees

In brief: Headache

Epidural placed too deeply can cause dural puncture and this may lead to a headache.
If a catheter is placed in this space and local anesthetic is given, the patient may get a high spinal which can cause one to even stop breathing. We do many checks when placing a catheter so this is unlikely to happen. Incidence of headache is about 1 in a 100. There are other unlikely mishaps. Good luck.

In brief: Headache

Epidural placed too deeply can cause dural puncture and this may lead to a headache.
If a catheter is placed in this space and local anesthetic is given, the patient may get a high spinal which can cause one to even stop breathing. We do many checks when placing a catheter so this is unlikely to happen. Incidence of headache is about 1 in a 100. There are other unlikely mishaps. Good luck.
Dr. Tarek Shahbandar
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Dr. Tarek Shahbandar
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Dr. Richard Pollard
Anesthesiology
1 doctor agrees

In brief: Headaches

As with any invasive procedure there is a risk of bleeding and infection.
The main concern with dural puncture with an epidural needle is a bad headache. This headache is usually postural, that is to say gets worse when you sit up. It is self limiting and usually self heals in about 7 days. If needed it can be treated with an epidural blood patch.

In brief: Headaches

As with any invasive procedure there is a risk of bleeding and infection.
The main concern with dural puncture with an epidural needle is a bad headache. This headache is usually postural, that is to say gets worse when you sit up. It is self limiting and usually self heals in about 7 days. If needed it can be treated with an epidural blood patch.
Dr. Richard Pollard
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Dr. Richard Pollard
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Dr. Romanth Waghmarae
Pain Management

In brief: Risks of epidural

Risks include dural puncture which may cause headaches that may require a blood patch, infection, nerve injury, bleeding, incomplete block, rare back pain, .

In brief: Risks of epidural

Risks include dural puncture which may cause headaches that may require a blood patch, infection, nerve injury, bleeding, incomplete block, rare back pain, .
Dr. Romanth Waghmarae
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Dr. Romanth Waghmarae
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1 comment
Dr. Charles Rocamboli
The largest risk of a dural puncture and misplacement of the catheter during an epidural is that it is not noticed by the anesthesiologist. The amount of medication given for an epidural is about 10 times the amount given for spinal anesthesia. If all the medication is given directly into the spinal fluid it can be life threatening.
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