Korean J Anesthesiol.  2016 Feb;69(1):66-70. 10.4097/kjae.2016.69.1.66.

Paraplegia following cervical epidural catheterization using loss of resistance technique with air: a case report

• Chae YJ
• Han KR
• Park HB
• Kim C
• Nam SG

• KMID: 2152863
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2016.69.1.66

Abstract

We report a case of paraplegia without neurologic deficit of upper extremities following cervical epidural catheterization using air during the loss of resistance technique. A 41-year-old woman diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome had upper and lower extremity pain. A thoracic epidural lead was inserted for a trial spinal cord stimulation for treating lower extremity pain and cervical epidural catheterization was performed for treating upper extremity pain. Rapidly progressive paraplegia developed six hours after cervical epidural catheterization. Spine CT revealed air entrapment in multiple thoracic intervertebral foraminal spaces and surrounding epidural space without obvious spinal cord compression before the decompressive operation, which disappeared one day after the decompressive operation. Her paraplegia symptoms were normalized immediately after the operation. The presumed cause of paraplegia was transient interruption of blood supply to the spinal cord through the segmental radiculomedullary arteries feeding the spinal cord at the thoracic level of the intervertebral foramen caused by the air.

Keyword

Air; Cervical; Complication; Paraplegia; Spinal cord ischemia

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arteries
Catheterization*
Catheters*
Epidural Space
Female
Humans
Lower Extremity
Neurologic Manifestations
Paraplegia*
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Compression
Spinal Cord Ischemia
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spine
Upper Extremity