[Paraplegia after left thoracotomy in a patient carrying an epidural catheter].
A 61-year-old man undergoing left thoracotomy, in whom a lumbar epidural catheter had been inserted, experienced paraplegia in the immediate recovery period. Diagnostic tests and clinical examinations ruled out neurological causes attributable to the catheter, indicating that the cause was surgical. Paraplegia after thoracotomy is rare but has been described in the literature. We discuss ways that injuries may produce medullary lesions related to thoracic surgery.
Servicio de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Unidad del Dolor, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Avda. Ana de Viya, 21, 11009 Cádiz.
M
M
Mato
A
A
Pérez
J
J
Otero
C
C
Márquez
R
R
Mora
L M
LM
Torres
D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods