Korean J Anesthesiol.  1991 Aug;24(4):843-846. 10.4097/kjae.1991.24.4.843.

Tonic - Clonic Convulsions of the Lower Limbs following Spinal Anesthesia Using Meperidine

• Kim MH
• Jee DL
• Cheun JK

• KMID: 2090663
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1991.24.4.843

Abstract

Recently we encountered consecutive but transient tonic-clonic convulsions and motor weak-ness in the lower limbs of a patient during the recovery from meperidine spinal aneathesia for Cesarean section. The patient revealed no previous history of neurologic disease, and there was no suspicious cause to explain the phenomenon. The episodes of convulsion were suppressed with intravenous diazepam. The mechanisms are vaguely suggested that the spinal inhibitory neurons are inhibited by the local anesthetic effects of spinal meperidine and an effect similar to the convulsive action of intraspinal morphine occurs.

Keyword

Spinal anesthesia; Meperidine; Complication; tonic-clonic convulsion

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, Spinal*
Anesthetics
Cesarean Section
Diazepam
Female
Humans
Lower Extremity*
Meperidine*
Morphine
Neurons
Pregnancy
Seizures*
Anesthetics
Diazepam
Meperidine
Morphine