title: Thoracic paravertebral block: radiological evidence of contralateral spread anterior to the vertebral bodies.
abstract: We report contralateral spread of contrast medium anterior to the vertebral bodies after injection of contrast through a thoracic paravertebral catheter that was used to manage pain in a patient with multiple fractured ribs. We review the literature and propose that the anatomical basis for this observation is spread in the extrapleural compartment of the thoracic paravertebral space along the subserous fascial plane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Karmakar
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kew
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D003287:Contrast Media