[Complications of Epidural Block and Nerve Root Block]

The two major complications clinicians should pay attention to when providing regional anesthesia or nerve block treatment are infection and hematoma. While epidural block is a commonly employed treat- ment method, its complications including epidural abscess and hematoma may require surgical interven- tion to control, and clinicians should perform such blocks with meticulous care. Because early diagnosis and appropriate treatment greatly affect the prognosis from epidural abscess or hematoma, clinicians must have sufficient knowledge of these complications. Knowledge in characteristic symptoms of and treat- ments for pneumocephalus and intracranial hypoten- sion is also required. As, in case of nerve root blocks, different complications may arise depending on which nerve root is treated, clinicians must also have knowl- edge of both the important points to keep in mind and potential complications for each of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions.