title: Unexpectedly high block following epidural catheter placement under direct vision: a case report.
abstract: A 72-year-old female underwent elective lumbar spinal decompression. At the end of the procedure an epidural catheter was sited by the surgeon under direct vision. A bolus of levobupivacaine was injected. Shortly after reaching the recovery area, the patient collapsed and required re-intubation and mechanical ventilation. She was extubated five hours later and suffered no adverse sequelae. Having excluded other possible causes of immediate post-operative collapse, a clinical diagnosis of subdural blockade was made. A literature search using Medline has found no other case reports of such a complication following epidural placement under direct vision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'agapeyeff
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Crabb
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077554:Levobupivacaine
chemical_list: D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine