FPM release updated guidance on Best Practice in the Management of Epidural Analgesia in the Hospital Setting

The Faculty, alongside the Royal College of Anaesthetists, Association of Anaesthetists, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Royal College of Nursing, Society of British Neurological Surgeons and Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, have published updated guidance on Best Practice in the Management of Epidural Analgesia in the Hospital Setting.

Epidural analgesia can be highly effective for controlling acute pain after surgery or trauma to the chest, abdomen, pelvis or lower limbs. It provides excellent pain relief with high patient satisfaction when compared with other methods of analgesia and may avoid side effects associated with systemic therapy. However, epidural analgesia can cause serious, potentially life-threatening complications and all practitioners should be aware of these. Safe and effective epidural management requires a co-ordinated multidisciplinary approach.

These guidelines have been revised with this multidisciplinary approach in mind, ensuring representation from a variety of professional organisations and specialties on the guideline development group.