Neurological Complications of Regional Anesthesia: An Updated Review with Clinical Guidelines.

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to present the neurological complications of regional anesthesia. Our analysis may help clinicians determine when regional anesthesia can be administered safely and in which patients it needs additional precautions. Regional anesthesia has a major role in anesthesia practice. Here, we focus especially on the most common neurological complications: epidural hematoma, post-anesthesia headaches, and peripheral nerve function defect. We investigated risk factors of these states and propose ways of reducing the risks. This work is based on the available literature and the authors' experience. The research process involved using relevant keywords in various electronic databases, resulting in the selection of 32 articles published between 1989 and 2022. This manuscript provides an overview and analysis of the existing literature related to neurological complications of regional anesthesia. We believe that our article provides up-to-date information on the most common regional anesthesia complications, emphasizing differences concerning children and pregnant women and provides important guidance for clinicians in preparing for and performing anesthesia.