Final answer:
The most common complication of epidural anesthesia occurring in about 10% of cases is a post-dural puncture headache. This happens because of a CSF leak from the dura mater after the procedure. Headaches post-epidural are typically treated with rest, hydration, caffeine, pain medication, or an epidural blood patch.
Step-by-step explanation:
A relatively common complication of epidural anesthesia is a post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). This condition occurs in approximately 10% of patients who receive an epidural and is caused by a leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the puncture site in the dura mater. When the CSF pressure decreases, it can lead to a headache that is typically positional; it worsens when the patient is upright and improves when lying down.
Other symptoms associated with PDPH include neck stiffness, auditory changes like tinnitus, and photophobia. The onset is usually within 48 hours post-procedure but can occur up to 5 days later. Treatment may include conservative measures such as bed rest, oral hydration, caffeine administration, and analgesics. If the headache is severe or prolonged, an epidural blood patch may be required, which involves taking a small amount of the patient's blood and injecting it into the epidural space to seal the leak and restore normal CSF pressure.
A common complication of epidural anesthesia is a post-dural puncture headache, which occurs due to a CSF leak at the puncture site. Treatment includes hydration, rest, caffeine, pain relievers, or an epidural blood patch if necessary.