Recent study revealed that the risk of severe complications from epidurals and other spinal anesthetics has been over estimated by the experts.

Study by the experts at Royal United Hospital, Bath revealed that the risk of permanent harm from either procedure is lower than one in 20,000, and in some circumstances, even lower.

These findings were based on the data collected from more than 700,000 such procedures that were conducted in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Researchers studied complications that resulted from each procedure for up to one year after the procedure was done. During the study span, between 14 and 30 patients suffered permanent injuries ranging from numbness in a part of the legs, to paraplegia and even death.

Data analysis revealed that the risk of permanent harm in women who are having an epidural for labour or caesarean section is about one in 80,000, or even lower.

Lead researcher, Dr. Tim Cook, a consultant anesthetist at the Royal United Hospital said: "The results are reassuring for patients with all procedures and settings being lower risk than many previous estimates. It is likely that this study will become widely quoted as the definitive estimate of these rare but potentially catastrophic complications."