Management of an Epidural Catheter Rupture: A Case Report (original) (raw)

The broken epidural catheter: an anesthesiologist's dilemma

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, 2007

Epidural anesthesia is a safe procedure and is routinely performed by the anesthesiologists. Breakage of an epidural catheter is a rare, but a worrisome complication. However, if this happens, the presence of retained epidural catheter fragment should be properly documented and should also be informed to the surgical team and the patient. Here, we present two cases of such an event and also highlighting the common reasons that could have precipitated that event.

Retained And Broken Epidural Catheter: A Case Report.

IOSR Journals , 2019

Placement of an epidural catheter in epidural space is a routine practice for providing anaesthesia & or analgesia in various surgical procedures. Breakage of epidural catheter though rare is a well-known but worrisome complication. The presence of a retained epidural catheter fragment tip must be addressed and communicated both to the surgeon and the patient

Successful management of a broken epidural catheter!!!

Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia, 2017

Breakage of epidural catheter though rare is a well-known but worrisome complication. Visualization of retained catheter is difficult even with modern radiological imaging techniques, and active surgical intervention might be necessary for removal of catheter fragment. We report such a case of breakage of an epidural catheter during its removal which led to surgical intervention.

A broken epidural catheter. Case report

Der Anaesthesist, 1980

A case is reported of a broken epidural catheter. The importance of the flexed position of the patient's back during the removal of the catheter is discussed.

A broken catheter in the epidural space

Neurosciences (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), 2014

The Arrow FlexTip epidural catheter has reinforced coiled stainless steel wire, which facilitates its insertion and is less likely to puncture the blood vessels. However, as compared with non-reinforced, reinforced epidural catheters are more vulnerable to break. We report a case from Saudi Arabia on a retained fragment of a broken epidural catheter. Measures to prevent this mishap and its management are discussed.

Breakage of Epidural Catheters: Case Report and Brief Review

Difficulties in removing the epidural catheter are rare. In this report, we describe two cases breakage of epidural catheter. Both cases involve the use of a catheter with innovative tip design and leading edge technology extrusion of the catheter body. The article discusses the causes of difficulties in removing the catheter, the tactics of the anesthesiologist in the event of such situations, the indications for surgical extraction, the remaining fragment of an epidural catheter.

Breakage of an Epidural Catheter Inserted for Labor Analgesia

Turkish Journal of Anesthesia and Reanimation, 2015

The breakage of an epidural catheter, which is usually not noticed, is a rare but important complication encountered while inserting or removing the catheter during epidural blockade. While the epidural catheter was being inserted for labor analgesia, despite no problem being encountered in advancing the catheter, it was drawn back to verify the location; it was observed that 2 cm of the distal end of the catheter was missing. A neurosurgical consultation was requested; it was reported that the broken piece would not create any problems and reintervention could be performed for labor analgesia. An epidural catheter was reinserted and was used for analgesia without any problem until delivery. Although nine months have passed, no problem was defined by the patient. If epidural catheter has to be removed while the Tuohy needle is still in place, we recommend that they should be removed together to minimize the risk of a possible breakage. We think that the decision for surgery and imaging can be performed based on the individual patient's clinical picture.

Incidental unintentional breakage of epidural catheter in supralaminar area: A case report

Surgical Neurology International, 2021

Background: Among some of the known complications, breakage of epidural catheter, though is extremely rare, is a well-established entity. Visualization of retained catheter is difficult even with current radiological imaging techniques, and active surgical intervention might be necessary for removal of catheter fragment. We report such a case of breakage of an epidural catheter during its insertion which led to surgical intervention. Case Description: A 52-year-old, an 18G radiopaque epidural catheter was inserted through an 18G Tuohy needle into the epidural space at T8-T9 interspace in left lateral position. Resistance was encountered. While the catheter was being removed with gentle traction along with Tuohy needle, it sheared off at 12 cm mark. After informing the operating surgeon and the patient, immediately an magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography (CT) scan were done. CT scan with sagittal and coronal reconstruction was done. Epidural catheter was visualized at D...

Accidental Multicompartment Placement of Epidural Catheter and Timely Detection of It after Test Dose

Although epidural anesthesia is routinely practiced in all of the major clinical settings, accidental subdural and subarachnoid block still remains its poorly understood complication with its variable clinical presentation. Here, we are describing a 29 years old primigravida who was in labor after premature rupture of membranes .Patient was given lumbar epidural anesthesia following which she developed an episode of supraventricular tachycardia along with complete lower limb motor block and sensory block upto T4 after giving test dose of local anesthetic solution. An emergency caesarean section was performed. She was successfully managed. Hence, patients receiving epidural anesthesia should be closely observed for any such untoward complication.

BLOCKAGE OF EPIDURAL CATHETER WITHIN CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

Failure to inject a drug through the epidural catheter because of epidural catheter connector malfunction is a rare complication. In this report, we describe a case of epidural catheter -connector malfunction in a 45 years old male undergoing emergency explorative laparotomy for haemoperitoneum under general anaesthesia and insertion of epidural catheter for post operative analgesia. After insertion of catheter after completion of surgery, drug could not be injected in the catheter. After common causes like kinking, knotting, occluded catheter were ruled out, the cause was found to be in the epidural catheter connector assembly which is not encountered frequently. This case warrants that anaesthesiologists must also be aware of rare causes and the preventive steps to avoid such complications.