tattoos & babies?

Question

can you still get an epidural even with a lower back tattoo??

Answer 1

sure you can. Thats not a problem. Also, the epidural usually goes in the middle of the spine, not in the lower back....i think...lol.

Answer 2

There are a few doctors who worry about doing epidurals with lower back tattoos, since tattoo inks can contain compounds that you probably wouldn't want in your spinal fluids. Oddly enough Canadian docs seem more worried than Americans.

Most anaesthesiologists around these parts are not too concerned, since the amount of inks that could get into your spine would be very slight, and they can get around the issue by making a tiny incision prior to inserting the needle, but there is enough concern that I've heard of at least one study into the question.

Answer 3

yes... Please see below

PURPOSE: To discuss the possible ramifications of neuraxial analgesia and anesthesia in women with tattoos involving their midline lumbar area. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Recently the authors have received requests for epidural anesthesia in three women with tattoos over the midline of their lumbar spine. In one patient the tattoo covered her entire back. In the other two, it was possible to locate a lumbar interspace that did not have tattoo pigment in the overlying skin. All three women received uneventful epidural analgesia. A Medline and EMBASE search for relevant publications using the keywords: epidural, spinal, tattoos, tattooing, complications did not find any reports of complications from inserting a needle through a tattoo. As none were found, the literature on tattoos and on coring with neuraxial anesthesia was reviewed to see if neuraxial anesthesia might be problematic if the needle passed through the tattoo. Coring is a complication of neuraxial anesthesia that may lead to epidermoid tumours in the subarachnoid space. Theoretically, a pigment-containing tissue core from a tattoo could be deposited into the epidural, subdural or subarachnoid spaces, leading to later neurological complications. CONCLUSIONS: There is no information in the literature about possible risks from inserting needles through tattoos during the performance of neuraxial anesthesia. This report discusses the possible implications.

Answer 4

yes....an epidural is just a needle mark when taken out. It won't damage your tattoo and a lot of times the epidural goes in the middle of your back so it may miss your tattoo anyway.

Answer 5

It will depend of course on how
old the tattoo is, for instance ,
if it is still tender because you
got weird and had one in your
eight month, no they won't do it.
If your tattoo is one you've had
for a long time, then there is
no problem.
I get my flu injection every year
between two stars on my right
upper arm & every time I have
to get B-12 injections, I find a
spot near a tattoo because the
area is not as sensitive.
And when I used to give myself
injections for my allergies,
I found that the nose of the tiger
on my upper hip was the perfect
place for injections & it was in the muscle.
I hope this satisfies your inquiry.

Answer 6

you can, but there have been recent studies about complications regarding epidurals and lower back tatoos. i believe it has to do with fear of the ink penetrating into the spinal fluid...

if you don't already have a lower back tattoo and you want kids/ epidural.. . the new advice is not to get one.

Answer 7

yeah you can and that's a good question. i watched c-sections at clinicals and one of the girls had a lower back tattoo and she obviously had ot have an epidural

Answer 8

Yes - an epidural taps into the spine and bypasses the skin completely.

Answer 9

i think it depends on how old the tat is and on the anesthesiologist who will be doing your epidural

Answer 10

Uhh yes, but I wouldn't get any tattoos if your planing on having a baby cause they will strech and also there could be a chance of hepatitis.