Spinal epidural hematoma following epidural catheter removal in a paraplegic patient.

Abstract

Spinal epidural hematoma is a rare and devastating complication of epidural catheter removal in an anticoagulated patient. The diagnosis could be quite challenging, especially in patients with preexisting neurological deficits. A 35-year-old patient with remote spinal cord injury and T4 level paraplegia developed a spinal epidural hematoma on the 7th postoperative day. The hematoma developed after epidural catheter removal with concurrent administration of unfractionated heparin.

• Authors: Naveen Eipe, Carlos E Restrepo-Garces, Richard I Aviv, Imad T Awad
• Journal: Journal of clinical anesthesia (J Clin Anesth) Vol. 21 Issue 7 Pg. 525-8 (Nov 2009) ISSN: 1873-4529 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20006262 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticoagulants
• Fibrinogen
• Heparin

Topics

• Adult
• Anesthesia, Epidural (adverse effects)
• Anticoagulants (adverse effects)
• Catheterization (adverse effects)
• Epidural Space (pathology)
• Fibrinogen (metabolism)
• Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal (etiology, pathology, therapy)
• Heparin (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Paraplegia (complications)
• Platelet Count
• Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic (surgery)