Neuroaxial anaesthesia in the presence of back tattoos (neuroaxial anaesthesia)
Introduction: Neuroaxial anaesthesia is used for pain control during or after surgery, to treat chronic pain states or to decrease labor and delivery pain in the parturient population. In recent years body tattooing on unusual sites such as the lumbar area have increased in popularity, and may be as...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Serbian Society of Anesthesiologists and Intensivists
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Serbian Journal of Anesthesia and Intensive Therapy |
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| Online Access: | http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/2217-7744/2017/2217-77441706139U.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818621447993556992 |
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| author | Unić-Stojanović Dragana 0000-0002-7066-6292 0000-0002-7066-6292 |
| author_facet | Unić-Stojanović Dragana 0000-0002-7066-6292 0000-0002-7066-6292 |
| author_sort | Unić-Stojanović Dragana 0000-0002-7066-6292 0000-0002-7066-6292 |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Neuroaxial anaesthesia is used for pain control during or after surgery, to treat chronic pain states or to decrease labor and delivery pain in the parturient population. In recent years body tattooing on unusual sites such as the lumbar area have increased in popularity, and may be associated with problems during performing neuroaxial anaesthesia technique. Until now, there were no systematic reviews nor randomized control studies that investigated, primarily, the performance of neuroaxial anaesthesia through a tattoo. Case report: We report a case of a 35-year-old lady who was admitted to our hospital for veins surgery. Preanaesthetic back examination revealed an extensive tattoo covering the entire of her lumbar region with no possibility of performing neuroaxial anaesthesia without penetrating pigment containing skin. It was decided to perform surgery under general anaesthesia. Discussion and conclusions: The main safety concern in performing neuraxial anaesthesia through a tattoo is in the presence of the pigment of the tattoo in the intrathecal or the epidural spaces. Although to date, there are no reported complications from inserting an epidural or spinal needle through the tattoo, this could be because in the past, fewer patients had tattoos involving the midline of the lower back. Also, complications may take time to develop and it may be too early to see these complications which may occur later in time. Therefore, because of safety concerns of introducing pigment into the intrathecal or epidural spaces with the use of hollow needles through tattoos during neuraxial anaesthesia, and no specific guidelines to follow, a safe individual approach should be attempted based on risk/benefit assessment for patient and experience of the anaesthesiologist. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T18:09:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec5f73f78a444756a7e2af93fe54093e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2217-7744 2466-488X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T18:09:26Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Serbian Society of Anesthesiologists and Intensivists |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Serbian Journal of Anesthesia and Intensive Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec5f73f78a444756a7e2af93fe54093e2022-12-21T22:21:49ZengSerbian Society of Anesthesiologists and IntensivistsSerbian Journal of Anesthesia and Intensive Therapy2217-77442466-488X2017-01-01395-613914210.5937/sjait1706139U2217-77441706139UNeuroaxial anaesthesia in the presence of back tattoos (neuroaxial anaesthesia)Unić-Stojanović Dragana 0000-0002-7066-6292 0000-0002-7066-62920University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine - Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases 'Dedinje', Belgrade, SerbiaIntroduction: Neuroaxial anaesthesia is used for pain control during or after surgery, to treat chronic pain states or to decrease labor and delivery pain in the parturient population. In recent years body tattooing on unusual sites such as the lumbar area have increased in popularity, and may be associated with problems during performing neuroaxial anaesthesia technique. Until now, there were no systematic reviews nor randomized control studies that investigated, primarily, the performance of neuroaxial anaesthesia through a tattoo. Case report: We report a case of a 35-year-old lady who was admitted to our hospital for veins surgery. Preanaesthetic back examination revealed an extensive tattoo covering the entire of her lumbar region with no possibility of performing neuroaxial anaesthesia without penetrating pigment containing skin. It was decided to perform surgery under general anaesthesia. Discussion and conclusions: The main safety concern in performing neuraxial anaesthesia through a tattoo is in the presence of the pigment of the tattoo in the intrathecal or the epidural spaces. Although to date, there are no reported complications from inserting an epidural or spinal needle through the tattoo, this could be because in the past, fewer patients had tattoos involving the midline of the lower back. Also, complications may take time to develop and it may be too early to see these complications which may occur later in time. Therefore, because of safety concerns of introducing pigment into the intrathecal or epidural spaces with the use of hollow needles through tattoos during neuraxial anaesthesia, and no specific guidelines to follow, a safe individual approach should be attempted based on risk/benefit assessment for patient and experience of the anaesthesiologist.http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/2217-7744/2017/2217-77441706139U.pdfneuroaxial anaesthesiaepiduraltattoosback risk |
| spellingShingle | Unić-Stojanović Dragana 0000-0002-7066-6292 0000-0002-7066-6292 Neuroaxial anaesthesia in the presence of back tattoos (neuroaxial anaesthesia) Serbian Journal of Anesthesia and Intensive Therapy neuroaxial anaesthesia epidural tattoos back risk |
| title | Neuroaxial anaesthesia in the presence of back tattoos (neuroaxial anaesthesia) |
| title_full | Neuroaxial anaesthesia in the presence of back tattoos (neuroaxial anaesthesia) |
| title_fullStr | Neuroaxial anaesthesia in the presence of back tattoos (neuroaxial anaesthesia) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuroaxial anaesthesia in the presence of back tattoos (neuroaxial anaesthesia) |
| title_short | Neuroaxial anaesthesia in the presence of back tattoos (neuroaxial anaesthesia) |
| title_sort | neuroaxial anaesthesia in the presence of back tattoos neuroaxial anaesthesia |
| topic | neuroaxial anaesthesia epidural tattoos back risk |
| url | http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/2217-7744/2017/2217-77441706139U.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT unicstojanovicdragana00000002706662920000000270666292 neuroaxialanaesthesiainthepresenceofbacktattoosneuroaxialanaesthesia |