Table 2.
Complications of neuraxial analgesia
| Complication or side effect | Epidural | Combined spinal–epidural |
|---|---|---|
| Failure rate26 | 14% | 10% |
| Dural puncture headache | 0.21%29 to 1.6%18 | 0.20%29 to 1.7%18 |
| Nerve damage cause by needle trauma35 | 0.6 per 100,000 | 3.9 per 100,000 |
| Epidural abscess | 0.2–3.7 per 100.00035 3 per 100.00037 |
? |
| Meningitis | 0–3.5 per 100.00035 | 1 per 39,00037 0–3.5 per 100,00035 |
| Epidural hematoma38 | 1 in 168,000 | |
| Fetal heart rate abnormalities21 (P < 0.01) | 5.5% | 31.7% |
| Fetal bradycardia50 | 4.7% | 8.3% |
| Pruritus20 | 29.5% | 57.8% |