title: Epidural analgesia associated with a fatal outcome in a patient with an unrecognized brain tumour.
abstract: A fatality associated with epidural analgesia in a patient with an unsuspected brain tumour has not been reported in the literature. We describe a case of postoperative lumbar epidural analgesia in a 54-year-old female patient who had an undiagnosed brain tumour and a fatal outcome postoperatively. The factors that potentially contributed to this mishap and the possible alternative management of this patient are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Tsou
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics