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Epidural anaesthesia

• complete relief of labour pain in 95% of women

Side-effects

• dizziness, shivering
• increased duration of second stage
• transient hypotension in 20% patients
• dural tap (1%) - severe headache in half women (0.5% overall)

Complications

• mild hypotension
• sepsis
• needle inserted into cerebrospinal space
• bladder atony - increased need for catheterisation
• total spinal block - respiratory arrest, hypotension