Epidural analgesia for labour in a parturient with neurofibromatosis.

The first report of epidural analgesia for labour in a 26-yr-old woman with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis is described. Epidural anaesthesia is often considered as contraindicated because neurofibromas may involve spinal cord and nerve roots. However, general anaesthesia was considered at high risk for this parturient on the basis of her previous medical and surgical history and of physical findings. The present observation suggests that epidural analgesia may be used in such circumstances provided that spinal cord neurofibromas have been ruled out by clinical and CT scan (or magnetic resonance imaging) examination.