Korean J Anesthesiol.  2008 Jan;54(1):123-126. 10.4097/kjae.2008.54.1.123.

Successful Treatment of Epidural Abscess with Percutaneous Drainage: A case report

• Shinn HK
• Cha YD
• Song JH
• Han JW
• Lee CS
• Ko HC
• Eum SH

• KMID: 2236586
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2008.54.1.123

Abstract

Continuous epidural analgesia is commonly used for chronic pain treatment as well as postoperative pain control. Epidural abscess is rare, but it is a serious complication of the continuous epidural analgesia, which leads to neurologic sequelae. Epidural catheter was inserted to a 87-year-old woman who complained of postherpetic neuralgia from T6 dermatome for continuous epidural analgesia. Two weeks later, neuralgia was aggravated along with back pain and tenderness around catheter insertion area. ESR and CRP level was also elevated. Epidural abscess was detected on MRI scan right after removal of catheter. It has been improved with percutaneous drainage via Tuohy needle with antibiotics without need for surgery. We conclude that percutaneous drainage with antibiotics is an effective method for the treatment of early diagnosed epidural abscess without neurologic deficit, especially in the high risk patients for operation.

Keyword

continuous epidural analgesia; epidural abscess; percutaneous drainage; postherpetic neuralgia

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Aged, 80 and over
Analgesia, Epidural
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Back Pain
Catheters
Chronic Pain
Drainage
Epidural Abscess
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Needles
Neuralgia
Neuralgia, Postherpetic
Neurologic Manifestations
Pain, Postoperative
Anti-Bacterial Agents