As long as the anaesthetist wants it to work. When performing the epidural injection, a soft, very thin plastic tube (‘catheter’) is passed through the needle into the epidural space. The needle is removed and the catheter remains behind, through which local anaesthetic can be given as long as needed. This is mostly done with a continuous infusion by means of a special pump.
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The infusion of local anaesthetic is normally stopped after a few days, and a few hours later the sensation of the affected area will be back to normal.
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