Korean J Anesthesiol.  2015 Apr;68(2):179-183. 10.4097/kjae.2015.68.2.179.

Epidural anesthesia for permanent spinal cord stimulation with a cylindrical type lead: a case series

• Lee SE
• Choi RM
• Kee R
• Lee KH
• Jeon S
• Jung JW
• Kim WJ
• Yoon JS

• KMID: 2236159
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2015.68.2.179

Abstract

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in trials involving external stimulation are easily conducted under local anesthesia. However, implantation of a permanent SCS system is painful, and can be intolerable in some patients. Epidural anesthesia can be used to perform the SCS implantation without discomfort if the patient can localize the area of paresthesia. However, little is known about epidural anesthesia for SCS. This paper reports 23 cases of permanent SCS with a cylindrical type lead implanted under the epidural anesthesia. Epidural anesthesia was sufficient in 22 patients without discomfort and significant complications. The remaining patient experienced incomplete epidural anesthesia and required additional analgesics to blunt the pain. All the leads were placed consistent with the patient's report of paresthesia area under epidural anesthesia. Thus, epidural anesthesia is an effective and safe method for the optimal placement of SCS to minimize the discomfort for patients without impairing patients' response to the intraoperative stimulation test.

Keyword

Epidural anesthesia; Spinal cord stimulation

MeSH Terms

Analgesics
Anesthesia, Epidural*
Anesthesia, Local
Humans
Paresthesia
Spinal Cord Stimulation*
Analgesics