• M A Alonso-Fernández, M B Estébanez-Montiel, P Rico-Cepeda, and Grupo de Trabajo de Analgesia y Sedación de la SEMICYUC.
• Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España. mangelesalonsofernandez@yahoo.es
• Med Intensiva. 2008 Feb 1;32 Spec No. 1:100-6.

AbstractThe epidural analgesia is one of the most effective techniques for pain relief when it is indicated, but it can present potentially serious complications that must precociously be diagnosed and be treated. In the Critical Care setting, epidural analgesia is used for pain control after surgery or major trauma. The technique is simple, a catheter is placed into a virtual cavity, so the administered drugs are absorbed through the epidural space into nerve roots. The administration of local anesthetics, opioids or the combination of both by epidural route (administered in continuous infusion or bolus), provides better analgesia. Also the clonidine can be used. In order to diagnose and to treat suitably the possible complications (pain, urinary retention, nauseas and vomits, itching, motor block, infection, respiratory depression, hypotension) a series of safety measures must be adopted (respiratory and heart rate, blood pressure, sedation score, sensory and motor level assessment, rate of diuresis, temperature and signs of infection).

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