A rare complication of epidural catheterization

A rare complication of epidural catheterization

In this paper a case report with a rare complication of continuous epidural catheterization for postoperative pain treatment is presented.Epidural space had been identified by the help of a syringe filled with air. On the 4 th postoperative day, the patient began to complain of a pain on her right thigh. On the CT scan an air bubble at L2-L3 level on the right spinal root was diagnosed. The following week her complaints diminished. After 16 days the patient was discharged without pain.In conclusion, we have decided that maximum care should be taken not to inject any amount of air into the epidural space during the injection.

___

  • Baker AS, Ojemann HO, Swartz MU, Richardson EP. Spinal epidural abscess, new England J Med 1975; 293 ; 463 - 468.