Epidural Anesthesia Complications

Clinical Evidence and Guidelines

• The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) guidelines acknowledge that epidural procedures can be associated with sensorimotor deficits as a potential complication 1, 2
• The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recommends the use of image guidance (fluoroscopy) for proper needle placement to minimize complications 1, 2

Prevention Strategies

• The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) strongly recommends the use of image guidance (fluoroscopy) for proper needle placement to minimize complications 1, 2, 3
• Appropriate patient selection and consideration of contraindications before performing epidural procedures can help avoid complications 4, 5

Risk Assessment

• The BMJ guidelines (2025) note that epidural procedures may be associated with a small risk of moderate harms (such as prolonged pain or stiffness) and a very small risk of catastrophic harms (such as spinal cord injury) 4, 5