Overview
At the end of your preoperative assessment, you can discuss the planned procedure with your patient.
This allows you to explain the nature and purpose of the procedure and discuss the risks and benefits involved.
| Risk | Incidence |
|---|---|
| Low blood pressure |
1 in 5 (spinal) 1 in 50 (epidural) |
| Headache |
1 in 500 (spinal) 1 in 100 (epidural) |
| Failure |
1 in 100 |
| Nerve damage |
Very rare (temporary 1 in 1000 to permanent 1 in 13 000) |
| Infection |
Very rare (<1 in 50 000) |
Table 1 Consent for regional anaesthesia
| Risk | Incidence |
|---|---|
| Chest infection |
1 in 5 |
| Sore throat |
1 in 5 |
| Nausea |
1 in 10 |
| Failed intubation |
1 in 250 |
| Awareness during procedure |
1 in 500 |
| Damage to teeth |
1 in 4500 |
| Anaphylaxis |
1 in 10 000 |
Table 2 Consent for general anaesthesia