Although epidural analgesia is generally considered safe, some risks are suspected. Most side effects are related to the drugs used, for example hypotension and motor blockade due to local anesthetics and nausea and itching due to opioids.

Few studies have used predicted discharge criteria to assess length of hospital stay. There is a need for a multimodal, rapid postoperative recovery program that reduces perioperative complications and length of hospital stay without compromising patient safety, in which epidural analgesia is a key component.

Epidural analgesia was once an effective method often considered the “gold standard” for postoperative pain management. However, recent evidence-based data have shown that the benefits of epidural analgesia are not as significant as previously thought.

It is worth emphasizing that the cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal benefits of epidural analgesia have been documented in major, open surgery. Most recommendations do not recommend epidural analgesia for laparoscopic procedures such as cholecystectomy and colon resection. Furthermore, these benefits are only apparent when compared with systemic opioid use.