Maternity Nursing: Intrapartum Q 45

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The nurse should realize that the most common and potentially harmful maternal complication of epidural anesthesia would be:

  

     A. Severe postpartum headache

     B. Limited perception of bladder fullness

     C. Increase in respiratory rate

     D. Hypotension

    

    

Correct Answer: D. Hypotension.

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Epidural anesthesia can lead to vasodilation and a drop in blood pressure that could interfere with adequate placental perfusion. The woman must be well hydrated before and during epidural anesthesia to prevent this problem and maintain adequate blood pressure.

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Option A: Headache is not a side effect since the spinal fluid is not disturbed by this anesthetic as it would be with a low spinal (saddle block) anesthesia;

Option B: Limited perception of bladder fullness is an effect of epidural anesthesia but is not the most harmful. After having an epidural, the woman may not be able to feel when her bladder is full because the epidural affects the surrounding nerves.

Option C: Respiratory depression is a potentially serious complication. Occasionally, some medicines used in an epidural can cause slow breathing or drowsiness.

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