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EPIDURAL ABSCESS: A HAZARD OF SPINAL EPIDURAL ANAESTHESIA
Author(s) -
NORTH J. B.,
BROPHY B. P.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1979.tb05847.x
Subject(s) - medicine , epidural abscess , surgery , anesthesia , complication , abscess , fistula , paralysis , nerve root , spinal cord compression , asepsis , general anaesthesia , spinal cord , psychiatry
Two cases of spinal epidural abscess following prolonged epidural anaesthesia are presented. The clinical features included fever, malaise, and signs of nerve root compression; backache was not marked. Prompt surgical drainage and appropriate antibiotics are required to avoid the costly sequelae of bladder and leg paralysis from spinal cord compression. Both infections were caused by bacterial contamination of catheter, and although this complication is uncommon, it emphasizes that strict asepsis is essential during continuous epidural anaesthesia.