CJA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a scholarly reply
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Schroter, J.
Right arrow Articles by Motsch, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Schroter, J.
Right arrow Articles by Motsch, J.

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 44, 300-304, Copyright © 1997 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

ARTICLES

Epidural abscess after combined spinal-epidural block

J Schroter, D Wa Djamba, V Hoffmann, A Bach and J Motsch
Department of Anaesthesia, University of Heidelberg, Germany.

PURPOSE: We report the first case of abscess formation after combined spinal-epidural block (CSE). Penetration of the dura in CSE may constitute an additional risk of subarachnoid spread of bacteria when post-puncture epidural infection is present. CLINICAL FEATURES: The combination of a spinal and a continuous epidural block (CSE) using a needle through needle technique was used in a 72-yr-old man for reconstructive vascular surgery of the lower limb. On the fourth postoperative day the patient demonstrated back pain, fever, and exudation of pus from the CSE-puncture site. An epidural abscess was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and subsequently an emergency hemiaminectomy was performed. Physical examination and surgery did not show evidence of bacterial spread into the subarachnoid space. CONCLUSION: Epidural abscess formation after CSE may increase the risk of bacterial spread into the subarachnoid space. In this case spontaneous exudation and surgical drainage of abscess material may have prevented intrathecal infection. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of an epidural abscess appears particularly essential after CSE to prevent neurological sequelae.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br J AnaesthHome page
S. Grewal, G. Hocking, and J. A. W. Wildsmith
Epidural abscesses
Br. J. Anaesth., March 1, 2006; 96(3): 292 - 302.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.