title: Tumour metastasis at the site of a previous epidural catheter.
abstract: Epidural catheters can cause a number of rare, serious complications. The following case report describes a patient who received continuous epidural analgesia following radical cystectomy for bladder cancer Fifty-three days after the cystectomy, the patient underwent emergency surgery for a metastasis at the vertebral level where the epidural catheter had been inserted. A metastasis at the site of an epidural catheter which may be a direct complication of epidural analgesia, is a previously unreported event. Local, anatomical and pathological factors which may have led to the patient developing a metastasis at the epidural site are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chappell
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Schoengen
mesh_terms: D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D015174:Epidural Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*