Labour epidural analgesia for a woman with a factor XI deficiency: an illconsidered risk?

Inherited bleeding disorders contraindicate epidural analgesia because of the risk of epidural haematoma. However, there is no consensus about a minimal rate of factor XI required for its performance. We report here a case of epidural analgesia in a pregnant woman with a moderate and symptomatic factor XI deficiency, despite this theoretical contraindication. Indeed, the factor XI deficiency results in a haemorrhagic risk which is variable and not easily foreseeable. Nevertheless, no neurological after-effect or excessive bleeding occurred although no specific prophylaxis had been performed.