Postmortem findings after epidural anaesthesia.
Postmortem specimens of 10 patients who had received continuous epidural anaesthesia postoperatively (ranging from 2-21 days) were examined. Slight epidural haemorrhage was observed in six patients and a macroscopically visible haematoma in a thrombocytopenic patient. Nonspecific epidural inflammatory reactions were observed microscopically in all patients. Specimens from seven patients with systemic infection showed signs of epidural infection. No similar pathology was found in a control group without epidural catheters. The aetiology and risk factors of the above findings are discussed, and recommendations given to prevent such sequelae after epidural anaesthesia.
Wulf
H
H
Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany.
Striepling
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D002045:Bupivacaine; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology*
D002045:Bupivacaine