Open AccessPersistent Cauda Equina Syndrome with No Identifiable Facilitating Condition After an Uneventful Single Spinal Administration of 0.5% Hyperbaric Bupivacaine
Author(s) -
Thouraya Chabbouh,
Claude Lentschener,
Mathieu Zuber,
Nicole Jude,
B Delaître,
Yves Ozier
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/01.ane.0000184126.57327.c3
Subject(s) - medicine , cauda equina syndrome , bupivacaine , anesthesia , cauda equina , surgery , neurological deficit , local anesthetic , spinal anesthesia , intrathecal , spinal cord , psychiatry
We diagnosed cauda equina syndrome 15 h after uneventful single spinal administration of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 12.5 mg through a 27-gauge pencil-point type needle. No preexisting neurologic disorder was recorded. There was no pain or paresthesia during needle placement or drug injection. The sensory levels were bilateral, symmetric, and caudal to T8. Resolution of most of the symptoms occurred within a few days but some foot drop persisted for 2 yr after the procedure. Bupivacaine neurotoxicity is suggested by the absence of any other identifiable cause for this neurologic deficit.