Thoracic epidural hematoma

Neuraxial and Perineural Bleeding after Neuraxial Techniques: An Overview of the Last Year

Spinal hematoma following neuraxial or perineural techniques is a rare but severe complication that can potentially lead to catastrophic consequences. The aim of this review is to analyze all reported cases of neuraxial or perineural bleeding after performance of a locoregional technique since the last guidelines update in 2018. We included articles indexed by MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar. We analyzed the patient's age, surgical procedure, pre-operative anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy, type of anesthetic procedure, vertebra level of the procedure, diameter and point type of the needle, hematoma type (spinal, subdural, epidural), signs and symptoms, time to imaging, and time to treatment and outcome. During our bibliographic research, we identified 5637 unique articles that were eligible according to our protocol criteria, identifying 18 separate cases of neuraxial bleeding. Although clinicians are usually aware of antiplatelet and anticoagulant perioperative management, a careful post-procedural observation and a detailed patient education are also imperative for the early detection of the symptoms of spinal cord ischemia.