Procedure, duration, potential risks ... What you need to know about an epidural

Regularly used for mothers to prevent pain associated with childbirth, the epidural continues to cause concern in some women, while its other uses remain unknown.

On Wednesday in Without an appointment, Doctor Jimmy Mohamed therefore summarized the various things to know about this practice. 

What is an epidural? 

"The epidural is a technique of loco-regional anesthesia, to put a part of the body to sleep. We will prick between the third and the fourth vertebra, in the lower back, and put a small needle. It is long to allow the The anesthetist can better guide his gesture, but we do not put it in. It is only two to three centimeters that penetrate. 

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This helps to avoid having pain during childbirth, while being able to have sensations.

The goal is not to anesthetize completely since when there are contractions, when the woman has to breathe and push, she must be conscious since the delivery is much longer when you have an epidural.

What other operations can it be used for?

It is a surgical technique that is not specific to childbirth.

The epidural can be used for any surgery of the lower limbs in orthopedic surgery.

If you also have, for example, varicose veins that need to be operated on, we can give you this epidural.

Finally, we can do exactly the same thing, even if it is less frequent, in the event of an intervention on the level of the bladder.

Can there be complications?

At one time, some women were afraid of losing the use of their legs.

But in reality, we are not going to touch the marrow, we are not going to go that far.

The main risk is linked to the failure of the epidural.

Sometimes it can be difficult to ask it.

Sometimes there can also be lateralization, which means that we are going to sleep better on one side and less well on the other, and therefore the woman can feel on the right side of the uterus that she is in pain.

In this case, we will move the patient and add the product.

The other major risk during an epidural is lower blood pressure, and therefore discomfort.

There may also sometimes be a little headache and nausea that may occur after the break.

How long does the effect of the epidural last?

This can vary, but as a rule the product is eliminated after a few hours and you can get up and walk again.

Moreover, the earlier you get up the better, in order to avoid complications with thromboembolic diseases such as phlebitis and pulmonary embolism.

Getting up should therefore be as early as possible. "