title: Ipsilateral thoraco-lumbar anaesthesia and paravertebral spread after low thoracic paravertebral injection.
abstract: We report ipsilateral thoraco-lumbar anaesthesia and paravertebral spread of contrast after injection through a thoracic paravertebral catheter that was placed at the right T8-9 spinal level for pain management in a patient with multiple fractured ribs. We review the literature and describe the subendothoracic fascial communication between the thoracic paravertebral space and the retroperitoneal lumbar paravertebral region, which we propose, is the anatomical basis for ipsilateral thoraco-lumbar anaesthesia and paravertebral spread of contrast in our patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Karmakar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gin
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000628:therapy; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae