title: A broken catheter in the epidural space.
abstract: The Arrow FlexTip epidural catheter has reinforced coiled stainless steel wire, which facilitates its insertion and is less likely to puncture the blood vessels. However, as compared with non-reinforced, reinforced epidural catheters are more vulnerable to break. We report a case from Saudi Arabia on a retained fragment of a broken epidural catheter. Measures to prevent this mishap and its management are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, PO Box 7897, Riyadh 11159, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail: jsanwari@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jamil S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Anwari
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Wahbi
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Nahdi
mesh_terms: D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult