Distance from the Skin to the Lumbar Epidural Space in Basrah Obstetric population

Many anatomical structures are penetrated by needle during epidural anaesthesia which is one of the common procedure to relief pain during obstetric delivery. Multiple physical parameters like, age, height, weight and body mass Index may correlated with distance from the skin to epidural space. Till now the depth of epidural space in obstetric patient in Basrah is not studied. Aim of the study To find the distance from the skin to epidural space at the level L3 L4 in Basrah obstetric population and its correlation with the body mass index (BMI) in order to improve the success rate of the technique and minimize the errors of epidural analgesia and its complication. Patients and Methods Two hundred fifty five pregnant women had been included in this study. The distance was measured for each patient, the distance from skin to needle hub was noted and this distance subtracted from the entire needle length to give the distance from skin surface to epidural space (SE). Result The distance from the skin to epidural space ranges between (3 -7cm) with mean of 4.43 SD 0.96 cm 1, 2, 3. The distance from skin to epidural space was significantly correlated with the body weight and body mass Index (BMI). Conclusion Distance from the Skin to the lumbar epidural space in most Iraqi obstetric patients in Basrahranges between (3 -7cm) with mean of 4.43 SD 0.96 cm closely correlated with the body weight and body mass Index. The distance from the skin to the epidural space in Iraqi obstetric women in Basrah was greater thanAsian countries that reported in Japanese, Chinese, Pakistan but lower than that reported about British and German women. The distance from the skin to the epidural space was significantlygreaterinBritish, comparedwithothercountriesJapanese, Chinese, Pakistan, German, Iraq (Basrah).