• To understand the indications for epidural analgesia
• To familiarise yourself with the complications associated with epidural analgesia
• To improve your knowledge of the nursing care of people receiving epidural analgesia
Epidural analgesia continues to have an important role in the management of acute pain in post-operative settings. Although its use in clinical practice has declined, it continues to demonstrate superior analgesia effect compared with parenteral opioids. However, despite these benefits, epidural analgesia requires additional monitoring to ensure the timely identification of significant complications, such as haematoma and abscess. This article details the nursing care and management of adults receiving epidural analgesia in post-operative settings. It also outlines the main complications that may occur and how these can be managed.
Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2020.e11573
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Galligan M (2020) Care and management of patients receiving epidural analgesia. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2020.e11573
Published online: 17 November 2020
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