A nurse is caring for an adolescent who is postoperative following epidural anesthesia. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. Respiratory depression: This is more likely with systemic opioid administration rather than with epidural anesthesia. While monitoring is important, respiratory depression is not the primary expected finding with epidurals. B. Urinary retention: Epidural anesthesia blocks nerve impulses to the bladder, reducing the sensation of fullness and the ability to void. Urinary retention is a common and expected side effect in adolescents after epidural use. C. Mild sedation: Epidural anesthesia affects sensory and motor nerves locally, not the central nervous system as systemic medications do. Sedation is not typically expected unless additional sedatives or opioids are given. D. Hypertension: Epidural anesthesia usually lowers sympathetic tone, which can result in hypotension, not hypertension. Elevated blood pressure is not an expected finding post-epidural.