A woman has requested an epidural for her pain.She is 5 cm dilated and 100% effaced.The baby is in a vertex position and is engaged.The nurse increases the woman's IV fluid for a preprocedural bolus.The nurse reviews her laboratory values and notes that the woman's hemoglobin is 12 g/dl,hematocrit is 38%,platelets are 67,000,and white blood cells (WBCs)are 12,000/mm³.Which factor would contraindicate an epidural for this woman?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thrombocytopenia, or low platelet count, is a contraindication for epidural administration due to the risk of bleeding complications. The woman's anemia, dilation, and WBC count are not contraindications for an epidural, and sepsis would require treatment but does not necessarily contraindicate an epidural.

A Woman Has Requested an Epidural for Her Pain