Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Epidural (Cont-2)


Question:
What are the contraindications of epidural anaesthesia?

Answer:
1) Patient refusal of the procedure.
2) Inability to communicate with the patient.
3) Severe psychiatric disease.
4) Allergy to the drugs used for epidural anaesthesia.
5) Low blood pressure due to hemorrhage or shock state.
6) Anatomical deformity of the spine.
7) Acute neurological disease.
8) Infection at the insertion site of the intended epidural.
9) Systemic infection and septic state.
10) Coagulation disorders.
11) Anticoagulant therapy (blood thinners).
12) Very high blood pressure.
13) Very high blood sugar.
14) Inexperience of the medical practitioner.

Some of the above contraindications are absolute and some are relative. The final decision normally rests after careful consideration of all the factors involved, and after open consultation between the patient and the physician.

No comments: