“How long does epidural anesthesia last?”
I am a 38 year old female. I want to know how long does epidural anesthesia last?
5 Answers
AnesthesiologistAnesthesiologist
Depending on the local anesthetic use.short acting agents like lidocaine wore off faster compare to longer acting ones, but on the average, once the epidural is turned off, motor function returns rather rapidly within a few hours.
Depends on which local anesthetic used. 1-4 hours.
The duration of anesthesia depends on the anesthetic drug, concentration and amount given and the location in the epidural space. If a catheter (small tube) is placed in the epidural space and connected to a pump, it can last for several days. Ninety minutes is a typical duration, but it can be shorter or longer.
Best wishes,
Steven Dain MD
Best wishes,
Steven Dain MD
One advantage of epidural anesthesia is that most often a catheter is placed in the epidural space for a continuous infusion. Depending on the local anesthetic selected and the rate of infusion, the anesthetic effects are titratable to fit the clinical situation. Typically, if the epidural is for labor pain, the infusion will be stopped after delivery. If substantial pain after delivery is anticipated (such as after a cesarean section), the infusion can be continued for pain relief as long as needed.
In general, for the duration of the infusion plus a few hours after it is discontinued
