When should it be done? of Epidural anaesthesia

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Epidural anaesthetic is used for several different operations and procedures. It can be a good alternative to a general anaesthetic because you stay awake during the operation and can respond to the doctors and nurses treating you. Many people find they have less nausea and vomiting, which can happen after general anaesthetic. It also takes you less time to recover from the effects of the anaesthetic.

Epidural anaesthesia is particularly suitable for certain operations. It may be recommended for the following procedures:

hip and knee surgery,
surgery to reconstruct arteries in the lower legs,
amputation of the lower limbs,
operations on the genitals or bladder,
surgery for varicose veins, hernias and piles (haemorrhoids), and
pain relief following surgery that was carried out under general anaesthetic. This is called epidural analgesia.

Some women choose to have an epidural anaesthetic when they give birth, but you do not have to. The doctor or midwife will tell you if they think you need an epidural, but the final decision is yours. An epidural anaesthetic is usually recommended in the following cases:

in particularly painful or prolonged labour,
when there is a risk that an operation may be required,
for the delivery of twins or triplets,
if you suffer from a medical disorder which makes general anaesthesia dangerous, and
for caesarean delivery, delivery that requires forceps, or ventouse delivery (in which a suction cap is attached to the babyâ€™s head to help pull it out).