Acute-Onset Quadriparesis After Placement of Thoracic Epidural: A Case Report. Issue 5 (1st March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gonzalez, Meera N.; Sethi, Anish; McGavin, Jason; Trehan, Gaurav
• Is Part Of: A & A practice. Volume 12:Issue 5(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-03-01
• Subjects: Analgesia -- Periodicals; Analgesia -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; Anesthesiology -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 617.9605
• DOI: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000000867
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2575-3126

Abstract

Abstract : Blunt chest trauma and the treatment of associated pain can lead to impaired respiratory drive and abnormal pulmonary mechanics, in turn resulting in significant respiratory system complications. These can include pneumonia, hypoxia, atelectasis, and a prolonged need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Epidural analgesia can decrease the need for systemic pain control and may improve cooperation with pulmonary rehabilitation exercises. However, this treatment modality also carries a small risk of severe neurological complications such as spinal cord trauma, spinal cord ischemia, and epidural hematoma or abscess. This case report describes one such rare neurological complication: acute quadriparesis after thoracic epidural placement.