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Nursing Knowledge
Epidurals are an anesthesia technique where medication is injected into the epidural space around the spinal cord to provide pain relief or numbness.
The epidural technique was developed in 1921.
The pain relief with an epidural can take 10–15 minutes after initiation. It does not have a set duration but can be used continuously, with the dose being adjusted as needed.
For an epidural, a catheter is inserted into the epidural space for the continuous administration of medication. The client’s back should be arched to assist placement.
A spinal block is a type of anesthesia where medication is injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space, causing immediate and significant numbness.
A spinal block is the preferred method during C-sections and has the advantage that lower doses of medications can be used.
While the pain relief after a spinal block is immediate, the effect only lasts for 1 to 3 hours.
The needle is inserted into the subarachnoid space to inject the medication. This can be done with the client side-lying or sitting up.
Risks and downsides include:
| Spinal block | Epidural |
| Immediate onset | Gradual onset |
| Injected into subarachnoid space | Catheter placed in epidural space |
| Used for shorter procedures, C-section | Suitable for long procedures or labor, can be adjusted over time |
Be aware of your unit’s NPO policy prior to scheduled C-sections. Educate clients on safe positioning to facilitate labor progress.
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