ABSTRACT
Lumber epidural analgesia is a well established method of providing pain relief during labor. Placement of a needle in the epidural space is probably one of the more tephnically demanding procedures which are performed by anesthesiologists. Two-hundred-thirty-four women receiving epidural analgesia during labor were studied. The distance from skin to the epidural space was measured with Portex disposable epidural needle marked at 1 cm intervals. The mean distance was found to be 4.18 cm. There was no correlation between distance from skin to the epidural space and height, hut was signifieant correlation with weight(p<0.001). The epidural depths were identified most frequently at 3 to 4 cm deep and 84.2% of total cases were less than 5 cm deep. This study suggests that, if the epidural space has not been identified within a depth of 6 cm, redirection or reinsertion of the needle should be considered.