Women in labour not warned of all epidural risks

Women given an epidural during labour are frequently not warned of the more serious risks, such as paralysis, associated with the anaesthetic, according to a new survey.

A study in the latest edition of the Irish Medical Journal looking at practice across 16 Irish maternity units found that in half of them, risks such as paralysis and permanent nerve damage were not discussed with the patient. Just six units discussed the risk of epidural abscess and even fewer (three) discussed the risk of meningitis.

Most did, however, discuss the more minor risks such as headache (93.8% of respondents), partially/not working epidural (93.8%), drop in blood pressure (87.5%), and temporary backache/local tenderness (75%).