Uneventful epidural analgesia in a patient with severe thrombocytopenia

Sami M Ibrahim1, Mustafa Saleh ElGazali

  • 1Anesthesia Department, Hamad Medical Corporation. P.O. Box: 3050 Doha-Qatar. samyelaidy11@gmail.com

Epidural analgesia is the most effective method for analgesia in labor. It has, however, contraindications and carries many serious side effects. Though coagulopathy is an absolute contraindication for epidural and axial blocks, yet there are no absolute limits for platelet counts that stand in the way of providing epidural analgesia. In a patient who is writhing in pain due to severe uterine contractions, and in whom there exists a recent normal platelet screening and no history of bleeding disorders, it is internationally acceptable between anesthetists to provide epidural analgesia without waiting for a new platelet screening.

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