High epidural block after migration of paravertebral catheter placed by surgeon’s direct vision for post-thoracotomy analgesia

Authors

  • Itziar Insausti Pacheco Residente de anestesiología y reanimación en Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, España.
  • Esther Martínez García Especialista en anestesiología y reanimación en Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, España.
  • Gisela Roca Amatria Especialista en anestesiología y reanimación en Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, España.
  • Enrique Moret Ruiz Especialista en anestesiología y reanimación en Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, España.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30445/rear.v11i8.797

Keywords:

Anesthesia, Epidural, Anesthesia, Regional, Pain Management, Postoperative Care, Postoperative complications, Thoracic Surgery

Abstract

The analgesic technique of choice for postoperative pain control after thoracic surgery remains a thoracic epidural analgesia. In the last 10 years, many studies have shown continuous paravertebral block as equally effective and even safer, with few cases of serious associated complications. We present the case of a 73-year-old female, ASA III, undergoing a left atypical pulmonary resection with intraoperative placement of a paravertebral catheter by surgeon’s direct vision for postoperative analgesia.
5 hours later she presented a high epidural block (T1 sensitive, T4 motor). Local anaesthetic infusion was stopped, and the epidural catheter’s tip location was confirmed by contrast radiological image. In our case, catheter’s migration questions the sense of greater safety of this technique and emphasizes the mandatory need of strict monitoring in any performed procedure.

References

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Published

2020-09-10

How to Cite

Insausti Pacheco, I., Martínez García, E., Roca Amatria, G., & Moret Ruiz, E. (2020). High epidural block after migration of paravertebral catheter placed by surgeon’s direct vision for post-thoracotomy analgesia. Revista Electrónica AnestesiaR, 11(8), 1. https://doi.org/10.30445/rear.v11i8.797