Accidental Spinal Cord Injury Following an Attempted Thoracic Epidural for acute Pancreatitis Pain Management
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Case Report
P: 71-74
February 2020

Accidental Spinal Cord Injury Following an Attempted Thoracic Epidural for acute Pancreatitis Pain Management

Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim 2020;48(1):71-74
1. Department of Surgery, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor”, Cluj- Napoca, Romania
2. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3. University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 19.09.2018
Accepted Date: 06.05.2019
Publish Date: 18.11.2019
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ABSTRACT

We report a case of spinal cord injury following an attempted epidural in a conscious woman for pain management in acute pancreatitis. The epidural needle was inserted at the T11–T12 interspace. On the second attempt, dural puncture occurred. The patient did not complain of pain or discomfort during the procedure. Thirty-two hours after the attempted epidural, the patient was found to have motor deficit on her right lower limb. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a spinal haematoma with direct spinal cord injury. Post-laminectomy neurological recovery was slow but progressive. The possible causes for spinal cord injury and spinal haematoma without pain or paraesthesia during the procedure are discussed.

Keywords:
Direct spinal injury
epidural anaesthesia
spinal haematoma