Risks from Epidurals and Spinal Anaesthetics Exaggerated

The fear of complications from the use of epidurals and spinal anaesthetics is exaggerated , a study has said.

The fear of complications from the use of epidurals and spinal anaesthetics is "exaggerated", a study has said.

The study, led by Dr Tim Cook of the Royal United Hospital, Bath, suggests that the procedures are safer than previously thought.

Epidural Mistakes Proves To Be Fatal Blunders
Epidurals are usually given during childbirth to ease the pain during labor. But such epidurals proved to be fatal due to hospital blunders.

It showed that the risk of permanent harm linked with spinal anaesthetic or epidural was about one in 23,000 to one in 50,000.

Permanent injury in the study was defined as symptoms lasting more than six months.

The risk of being paralysed was two to three times less than of suffering any permanent harm.

Midwives demand that pregnant women should be made to pay for epidurals!
If women demand epidurals during delivery even if not needed they should be asked to pay.

Besides, the risk for women requiring pain relief for labour or Caesarean section was still lower, and the most pessimistic estimate of permanent harm was one in 80,000.

It was found, the risk of harm associated with epidural use during surgery was considerably higher than during childbirth, between one in 6,000 and one in 12,000.

Epidurals Associated With Breastfeeding Problems
A study done by researchers from University of Sydney suggested that having an epidural to relieve labour pains is associated with problems in breastfeeding.

However, even that was lower than previous estimates.

Cook said that the reason behind higher risk could be that many patients were elderly with medical problems, "and that the surgery itself increases risks," reports The Independent.

The study was published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia.

Source-ANI
SAV