Intercostal misplacement of a thoracic epidural catheter -A case report-

Inadvertent Placement of Thoracic Epidural Catheter in Pleural Cavity: A Case Report and Review of Published Literature

Thoracic epidural placement is considered the gold standard for pain management for abdominal or thoracic surgery. It provides analgesia superior to that provided by opioids with a decreased risk of pulmonary complications. Insertion of a thoracic epidural catheter requires the knowledge and expertise of an anesthetist; epidural catheter insertion may be challenging especially when sited in the higher thoracic region, in patients with unusual neuraxial anatomy, patients unable to position adequately for insertion or morbidly obese patients. Postoperatively the anesthetic team is required to look after the patient and assess for any complications such as hypotension. Even though the incidence of complications may be low; however, some of these could have detrimental consequences for the patients such as epidural abscess, hematoma formation, and temporary or permanent neurological damage. In this case report, we will discuss a patient who underwent a three-stage esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma under general anesthesia with epidural analgesia. The epidural catheter (Portex® Epidural Minipack System with NRFit® connector, ICUmedical, USA) was found in the intrapleural space during video-assisted thoracoscopy for the thoracic part of esophagectomy. To facilitate surgical access, the catheter was removed immediately, and the patient was given patient-controlled analgesia with morphine for postoperative pain control.

Intercostal misplacement of a thoracic epidural catheter discovered during lung cancer surgery: a case report

BACKGROUND

Blind epidural catheter placement can lead to inadvertent misplacement. We present a case of intercostal misplacement of a thoracic epidural catheter.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 67-year-old male underwent left lung cancer surgery via thoracotomy with epidural analgesia via the Th 5-6 intervertebral space, although with some difficulty. We detected dermatomal cold sensory loss around Th five min after initial administration of local anesthetics through the catheter before general anesthesia induction. However, the epidural catheter was intraoperatively found below the fifth rib, running along the course of the intercostal nerve. The catheter was successfully withdrawn via his back, and we postoperatively performed paravertebral block under ultrasound guidance. He did not complain of complications at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Detailed bilateral assessment of sensory loss after initial local anesthetic administration might have facilitated preoperative detection of the misplacement. In cases requiring multiple catheter insertion attempts, switching to another analgesic method should be considered.

Visible Evidence of Lumbar Epidural Catheter Misplacement-A Critical Incident Case Report

One of the causes of failed epidurals is catheter misplacement. Though various techniques of epidural space identification have been developed, none of them is 100% successful. Here, we present a case of lumbar epidural catheter misplacement in a patient scheduled to undergo right sided open nephrectomy. Catheter was found in the surgical field coming out of psoas major muscle.