A nurse is monitoring a patient in labor who has received epidural anesthesia for pain management. What should the nurse recognize as a potential complication from the epidural block?

Choice A rationale
Keeping the head of the bed at a 30-degree angle is not typically necessary following scoliosis repair with Harrington rod instrumentation. The position of the bed is usually determined by the patient’s comfort and the surgeon’s specific post-operative instructions.
Choice B rationale
Initiating the use of a PCA (Patient-Controlled Analgesia) pump for pain control is a common intervention following scoliosis repair with Harrington rod instrumentation. This allows the patient to self-administer pain medication as needed, providing effective and individualized pain control.
Choice C rationale
Repositioning the client by log rolling every 4 hours is a common practice after spinal surgery to prevent pressure ulcers and maintain alignment of the spine. However, it is not the primary intervention in this case.
Choice D rationale
Placing the client in protective isolation is not typically necessary following scoliosis repair with Harrington rod instrumentation. Isolation is usually reserved for patients who are at high risk of infection or who have an infection that could be transmitted to others.

Choice A rationale
Vomiting is not a common side effect of epidural anesthesia. Nausea can occur, but it is usually associated with the opioids used in the epidural, not the epidural itself.
Choice B rationale
Tachycardia, or a rapid heart rate, is not a typical side effect of epidural anesthesia. In fact, an epidural can sometimes cause a drop in heart rate, known as bradycardia.
Choice C rationale
Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is a common side effect of epidural anesthesia. The medication used in the epidural can cause blood vessels to relax, which can lower blood pressure.
Choice D rationale
Respiratory depression is not a common side effect of epidural anesthesia. The medication used in an epidural primarily affects the nerves in the lower body, so it does not typically impact breathing. Digoxin Digoxin Explore