Accidental intrapleural positioning of an epidural catheter in a patient undergoing a right pneumonectomy: A case report.
10.4097/kjae.2008.55.4.494
- Author:
Ji Yeon KIM
1
;
Jang Su PARK
;
Chae In JEONG
;
Sang Il LEE
;
Kyung Tae KIM
;
Won Joo CHOE
;
Jung Won KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea. jspark@paik.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
complication;
intrapleural positioning;
loss of resistance;
thoracic epidural catheter
- MeSH:
Analgesia, Epidural;
Anesthesia, General;
Catheters;
Humans;
Middle Aged;
Needles;
Pleural Cavity;
Pneumonectomy
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
2008;55(4):494-497
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Thoracic epidural analgesia is a common method of pain relief for thoracic and upper abdominal surgery. Misplacement of the epidural catheter is one of the complications associated with epidural analgesia. A 60-year-old man was scheduled for a right pneumonectomy under general anesthesia. Before inducing general anesthesia, the patient was placed in the left lateral decubitus position. A 18-gauge Tuohy needle was inserted into the T6-T7 level using the left paramedian approach 1.5 cm lateral to the midline with a loss of resistance at 7 cm, and uneventful catheter advancement was performed. Approximately 30 minutes after commencing surgery, the surgeon found the epidural catheter in the right pleural cavity. We report a case of the accidental intrapleural positioning of a thoracic epidural catheter.
