3rd National Audit Project (NAP3)

National Audit of Major Complications of Central Neuraxial Block in the United Kingdom

Report and Findings, January 2009

NAP3: Full Report Large file (6MB)
Executive Summary

Section 1: Project description and quantitative analysis (pdf, 1.6MB)

Section 2: Clinical reviews

Section 3: Appendices

NAP3: Presentation of the NAP3 results
NAP3: brief summary of major results
The iNAP3 app for iPhone™ (article originally published in Bulletin 67, May 2011)

The largest ever prospective study into the major complications of epidurals and spinal anaesthetics concludes that previous studies have over-estimated the risks of severe complications of these procedures. The study concludes that the estimated risk of permanent harm following a spinal anaesthetic or epidural is lower than 1 in 20,000 and in many circumstances the estimated risk is considerably lower.

If you would like a hard copy of this publication please email standards@rcoa.ac.uk. 

Further information

For any further enquiries please contact:

Dr Tim Cook
Consultant Anaesthetist
Royal United Hospital, Bath
Joint Lead for the 3rd National Anaesthesia Audit
tcook@rcoa.ac.uk

Archive: Original NAP3 audit pack

Published articles:

Cook TM, Counsell D, Wildsmith JAW on behalf of The Royal College of Anaesthetists Third National Audit Project. Major complications of central neuraxial block: report on the Third National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. Br J Anaesth 2009;102 (2):179–190.