title: A Retained Epidural Catheter Fragment Treated by Surgery.
abstract: The breakage of an epidural catheter is an extremely rare complication. We describe a unique case where a retained epidural catheter fragment after epidural anesthesia was treated by surgery. The epidural catheter broke during its removal, requiring surgery to remove the retained catheter. Intraoperatively, the removal of the catheter was attempted by simple traction, but was impossible because of the adhesion. The adhesion of the dura mater surface was carefully exfoliated and the successful removal of the catheter was accomplished. Conventionally, it was said that this follow-up was enough for the retained catheter. However, if a catheter is retained within the spinal canal, surgical removal should thus be considered before the adhesion advances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, Beppu, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tarukado
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Takada Central Hospital, Bungotakada, Japan.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, Beppu, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tono
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, Beppu, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suetsugu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, Beppu, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doi
keywords: Catheter; Complication; Epidural; Surgery