Injury to the spinal cord by a thoracic epidural catheter used to control postpneumonectomy pain : A case report.
10.4097/kjae.2009.56.6.720
- Author:
Kwi Chu SEO
1
;
Jung Eun KIM
;
Jong Hae KIM
;
Seok Young SONG
;
Jin Yong CHUNG
;
Woon Seok ROH
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea. anessy73@cu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Epidural analgesia;
Spinal cord injury;
Thoracotomy
- MeSH:
Abscess;
Analgesia;
Analgesia, Epidural;
Catheterization;
Catheters;
Hematoma;
Humans;
Infarction;
Middle Aged;
Paralysis;
Paraplegia;
Paresthesia;
Spinal Cord;
Spinal Cord Injuries;
Spinal Stenosis;
Thoracotomy
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
2009;56(6):720-724
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
A thoracotomy is one of the most severe painful operations. This severe pain can usually be controlled by thoracic epidural analgesia. Epidural catheterization for analgesia has several complications, e.g., epidural hematoma, abscess, spinal stenosis, spinal infarction, direct cord trauma, and neurotoxicity by chemical contamination. These complications can cause acute paraplegia, but permanent paraplegia is extremely rare. We report a case of paresthesia and temporary paralysis in a 54-year-old patient who suffered spinal cord injury after thoracic epidural catheterization for the control of postpneumonectomy pain under general anaesthesia.
