Coma after spinal anaesthesia in a patient with an unknown intracerebral tumour

Focal Neurologic Deficit After Epidural Catheter Removal Leads to Meningioma Diagnosis

We present an unusual case of a 60-year-old female who developed subtle, new-onset left upper and lower extremity weakness on day five of perioperative thoracic epidural placement. The onset of a focal neurological deficit after epidural placement usually raises suspicion for the presence of an epidural hematoma, abscess, or traumatic cord lesion. However, in this patient, brain imaging revealed a large, previously undiagnosed intracranial mass. Classically, the risk of mass-related intracranial pressure shifts leading to neurological changes is associated with spinal techniques, including diagnostic lumbar puncture, combined spinal-epidural catheter analgesia, and unintended dural puncture during epidural placement. However, based on this case and our summary of case reports in the literature, we determined that symptom onset associated with an intracranial mass may also arise after apparently uncomplicated epidural placement. Symptom onset in our case series ranged from six hours to ten days and was highly variable depending on tumor location, with reported signs and symptoms including headache, vision changes, focal deficits, or alterations of consciousness. Further studies are required to establish definitive causation between the epidural technique and changes in cerebrospinal fluid pressures leading to symptom onset. Though rare, this is a time-sensitive diagnosis that must be considered for any patient with unexplained neurological findings after neuraxial anesthesia.

[Unknown intracerebral tumour presenting as brainstem compression following unintentional dural puncture]

A 36-year old primigravid of 41 weeks gestation was admitted to the labour ward. Her past medical history included hyperemesis gravidarum and migraine. An accidental dural puncture occurred during labour epidural analgesia. In the postpartum period she presented with continuous headache, and was treated with oral analgesics, oral caffeine, fluid therapy, and tetracosactide. She refused an epidural blood patch. On the seventh day postpartum, the patient was re-admitted to the Emergency Department with decreased level of consciousness and signs of brainstem compression. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a posterior fossa tumour. An emergency craniotomy was performed with complete neurological recovery. This case emphasises the need to consider the differential diagnoses of post-dural puncture headache and to highlight the warning signs in patients who do not respond despite treatment with conventional therapy.