The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
권호 표지

Accidental Subdural Block Developed during Epidural Anesthesia

경막외 마취중 사고로 발생한 경막하 차단

  • Jeon, Jae-Kyu (Department of Anesthesiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Ae-Ra (Department of Anesthesiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Hyan-Rim (Department of Anesthesiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine)
  • 전재규 (계명대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실) ;
  • 김애라 (계명대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실) ;
  • 이향림 (계명대학교 의과대학 마취과학교실)
  • Published : 1993.11.20
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Subdural block is a rare but well recognized complication of epidural anesthesia. The placement of local anesthetics into the subdural space can lead to potentially life-threatening conditions. A healthy 46-year-old women underwent total abdominal hysterectomy under continuous lumber epidural anesthesia. The technical procedure for continuous epidural catheterization went smoothly without a single problem. However, signs of high epidural block such as apnea, cranial nerve paralysis and pupil dilatation developed gradually, about 20 minutes after the epidural injection of 2% lidocaine 20 ml through the epidural catheter. Such extensive segmental block can only be explained as the result of injection into subdural space even if it was not confirmed radiologically.

Keywords