Unrecognized contralateral intrapleural catheter: bilateral blockade may obscure detection of failed epidural catheterization

Anesth Analg. 2007 Mar;104(3):735-7. doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000255654.01482.74.

Abstract

Thoracic epidural analgesia has been widely used to reduce both postoperative and posttraumatic pain. We describe a case of inadvertent right-sided interpleural catheter placement and pneumothorax during attempted epidural catheter placement for left-sided rib fractures that went unrecognized because of bilateral blockade and adequate analgesia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Analgesia / methods*
  • Analgesia, Epidural
  • Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / methods
  • Anesthesia, Epidural
  • Catheterization / adverse effects*
  • Catheterization / methods*
  • Drug Administration Routes
  • Epidural Space / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Obesity
  • Pain, Postoperative / prevention & control
  • Pain, Postoperative / therapy*
  • Pneumothorax / diagnosis*
  • Pneumothorax / etiology
  • Thoracic Injuries / physiopathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed