title: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma during pregnancy: three case reports.
abstract: We present three extremely rare cases of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma occurring in pregnancy. The patients developed progressive paralysis of the upper and lower limbs and the diagnoses were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Urgent decompression is required to prevent neurological sequelae. The pregnancy may either be continued or delivered depending on the gestational age and severity of the disorder. Pregnancy-induced structural changes of the vascular walls and hemodynamic changes may play a role in the pathogenesis of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan. shintada@fujita-hu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasue
authors.forename: Haruki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sekiya
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Udagawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D046748:Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome