The Need for an Epidural “Window of Opportunity” in Pregnant Women With a Lumbar Tattoo

(Int J Obstet Anesth. 2018;33:53–56) Anesthesiologists face a dilemma when pregnant women with lower back tattoos request epidural analgesia during labor, as clear guidelines have not been established regarding the performance of epidural procedures through a tattoo on the lower back. In the United States ∼25% of people between the ages of 18 and 50 report having a tattoo. The opinions of anesthesiologists vary widely as to how to approach this scenario. In surveys performed addressing the issue, 40% of survey respondents indicated they would not perform an epidural technique through a lumbar tattoo and 70% reported the lack of a departmental policy for how to manage these patients.
Source: Obstetric Anesthesia Digest - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Editorials and Reviews Source Type: research