So when is a spinal or an epidural indicated?

In simple terms, a spinal or epidural is indicated if:

• There are no contraindications
• The balance of advantages and disadvantages outweighs those of the alternative techniques

However, often there is no outright ‘better’ technique on balance, and then patient choice becomes an important factor, guided of course by the knowledgeable anaesthetist.

Therefore this session will cover:

• Those factors that contraindicate the techniques
• The advantages and disadvantages of spinals
• The advantages and disadvantages of epidurals
• An overview of important factors to consider when deciding whether spinal or epidural is the right technique to choose