title: Inadvertent subdural injection: a complication of an epidural block.
abstract: Twenty-one hundred eighty two consecutive lumbar epidural injections were studied to determine the incidence of inadvertent subdural block retrospectively. A subdural block is defined as an extensive neural block in the absence of subarachnoid puncture, that is out of proportion to the amount of local anesthetic injected. Subdural injection is a complication of epidural block that probably occurs more frequently than previously recognized. An earlier report has estimated the incidence of subdural block to be 0.1%. This study, however, reports an incidence of 0.82% from a sample size of 2182 patients. Cadaveric dissection was also performed, further clarifying the presence and anatomic position of the subdural space.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lubenow
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keh-Wong
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kristof
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ivankovich
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ivankovich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D002045:Bupivacaine; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013355:Subdural Space / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002045:Bupivacaine