J Korean Pain Soc.  1996 Jun;9(1):264-267.

Respiratory Arrest during Cervical Epidural Block: A case report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Keimyung University, School of Medicine, Taegu, Korea.

Abstract

Cervical epidural block can be useful in the management of acute and chronic pain of the head, neck, shoulder, and arm, for selected patients. In spite of the widespread use of cervical epidural blocks for pain, there is limited published data on the specific technique and complications regarding the procedure. High levels of epidural block do not appear to be associated with clinically significant circulatory or ventilatory changes unless the concentrations of local anesthetics used are great enough to produce paralysis of intercostal and phrenic nerves. However, high level of epidural block is associated with sympathetic block whieh may affect responses of circulatory and ventilatory systems. Accordingly, the possibility of major complications of cervical epidural block must be borne in mind. We experienced two cases of respiratory arrest during cervical epidural block with bupivacaine. This is a report regarding complications of cervical epidural block.

Keyword

Anesthetic techniques: epidural; Complication: respiratory arrest

MeSH Terms

Anesthetics, Local
Arm
Bupivacaine
Chronic Pain
Head
Humans
Neck
Paralysis
Phrenic Nerve
Shoulder
Anesthetics, Local
Bupivacaine
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