A pregnant woman receiving regional anesthesia is at risk for which complication if she has been on anticoagulant therapy?

The correct response is that a pregnant woman receiving regional anesthesia is at increased risk for an epidural hematoma if she has been on anticoagulant therapy.

When a patient is on anticoagulants, the risk of bleeding is significantly heightened. In the context of regional anesthesia, such as an epidural, a catheter is inserted into the epidural space to administer anesthesia. If the patient has been taking anticoagulants, this can lead to excessive bleeding in the epidural space during or after the placement of the catheter. The accumulation of blood in this space can form a hematoma, which can compress spinal structures, leading to neurological deficits or severe complications.

Other potential complications related to bleeding, like a subdural hematoma, are less relevant in this situation as they pertain more to intracranial bleeding rather than bleeding in the spinal canal, which is where epidurals are placed. Aneurysm rupture is unrelated to the context of regional anesthesia and anticoagulant use. Postpartum migraine headaches, while they can occur for numerous reasons, are not a direct complication of anticoagulant therapy in connection with regional anesthesia during labor. Therefore, awareness of the risks associated with anticoagulant use is crucial for safe practice when administering regional anesthesia.