지속적 경막외차단중 발생한 경막외 감염증

Epidural Infection during Continuous Epidural Block

Epidural block is used extensively in each of the fields of surgical anesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, and diagnosis and management of acute and chronic pain. New developments in the understanding of pain conduction have extended the use of continuous epidural blockade to the administration of drugs that selectively block pain conduction while leaving sensation and motor power essentially unchanged. The safety and the reliability of spinal epidural catheter techniques have permitted relief of acute and chronic pain. However, one of the important aspects of the management of the epidural catheter is the possibility of epidural infection. We have experienced a case of epidural infection during control of post-herpetic neuralgia and discuss management of the epidural catheter in this article.