Clinical Analysis of Catheter Breakage in the Vertebral Canal During Epidural Anesthesia in One Case
LI Yang
WEI Zhi-bin
YUN Li-bing
LIU Min
YI Xu-fu
Abstract：Objective To investigate the causes and management measures of epidural catheter breakage in the vertebral canal during continuous epidural anesthesia (CEA).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on a case of medical dispute concerning epidural catheter breakage after placement during preoperative CEA.Results In this case,the patient was admitted to "hospital A" due to acute appendicitis,intended for an emergency appendectomy.An epidural catheter suddenly broke in the spinal canal during the epidural puncture and catheter insertion.Immediately,the doctor cut soft tissue adjacent to the catheter insertion area but detected nothing,and the operation was performed under general anesthesia after suturing.After surgery,thoracic CT scan showed a slightly high density with a tube bar shape in the 7th to 12th layer of the right side of the spinal canal in " hospital B".Surgical removal was performed 22 days after surgery under general anesthesia.A broken catheter,about 0.3 cm in diameter and 15 cm in length,was found to be left in the epidural space,accompanied by dural rupture.Thus,a repair operation was performed subsequently.Conclusion Preoperative risk assessment and strict operative procedures are important measures to avoid the catheter breakage during epidural anesthesia.
Keywords：AnesthesiaepiduralMedical disputeMedical malpractices
Publication Date：2018-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：3( 45-47 )