• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.275-278
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• 1996

The placement of epidural catheter may cause complications such as epidural hematoma, epidural abscess and neural damage. Among the above complications, epidural abscess is a rare but serious complication. This report pertains to a diabetic metlitus patient who developed spinal epidural and subdural abscess after continuous epidural catheterization for management of pain caused by reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The patient experienced urinary incontinence, as a neurologic sign, 8 days after epidural catherization. In was considered that the poor prognosis was due to a combination effects of a delayed visit to the hospital for treatment, rapid progression of abscess and uncontrolled blood sugar level. We therefore recommend aseptic technique and proper control of blood sugar level to prevent infection during and after epidural catheterization for diabetic patients. Early diagnosis of epidural abscess following surgical procedure must be required to avoid sequelae.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 1991

Continuous epidural analgesia is widely used in pain management. We investigates the incidence of contamination of epidural catheters used in epidural catheters for pain control. The tips of epidural catheters were examined for bacterial growth after use. In culture from 250 patients undergoing continuous epidural catheterization, 33(13.2%) catheters were found to be contaminated: staphylococcus epidermis 66.9%; staphylococcus aureus 12.1%; alpha streptococcus 12.1%; and others 9.1%. One significant epidural infection occured. One of the most common causes of the epidural infection during long time epidural block is the transmission of the microorganism from the contaminated skin to the epidural space along the epidural catheter. To prevent epidural infection, sterilization of the skin around the epidural catheter is essential.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.298-303
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• 1995

We have inserted epidural catheter for single or continuous injection of a drug for epidural analgesia. It is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter in appropriate site to acquire the most effective analgesia. In epidural block, we observed course and location of the tip of epidural catheter. Subject: 70 patients were divided into group I(non-injection of saline group during catheter insertion) and group II(injection group during catheter insertion). Group I included cervical(n=20), thoracic(n=10), and lumbar(n=20) epidural group. Group II, cervical(n=10), and lumbar(n=10) epidural group. Method: 19G FlexTip $Plus^{TM}$ Epidural Catheter ($Arrow^{(R)}$) was inserted 10cm cephaladly in epidural space with(group II) or without(group I) saline flushing. We observed course and location of the tip of epidural catheter by C-arm image intensifier during injection of contrast media ($Omnipaque^{(R)}$). Result: In group I, the number of tips of epidural catheters located within 2 cm from inserted site were: cervical 14/20(70%), thoracic 2/10(20%). lumbar 16/20(80%). In thoracic epidural blocks, tips of epidural catheters were more cephaladly located than with cervical and lumbar epidural blocks. With cervical epidural blocks, the number of tips of epidural catheters located within 2 cm from insertion site were less in group II than group I (20% vs. 70%). But no significant differences were noted between group I and group II with lumbar epidural block(90% vs. 80%). The number of tips of epidural catheters located around a predicted site were: cervical 2/20(10%), thoracic 4/10(40%), lumbar 0/20(0%) in group I, and cervical 2/10(20%), lumbar 1/10(10%) in group II. Conclusion: It was impossible to predict the exact location of tips of epidural catheters by measuring the inserted length without epidurogram. With many cases, tips of epidural catheters were located around the insertion site in lumbar epidural blocks, and in some cases around the predicted site in thoracic epidural blocks. The results suggests that epidural block should be done at a point near the required band of analgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.266-270
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• 2006

A case of an epidural abscess, a rare but possibly devastating complication of epidural instrumentation and catheterization, which occurred in a cancer pain patient with an epidural port connected to the epidural catheter, is described. Although cases of a catheter related epidural abscess have been intermittently reported, those following epidural port implantation are very rare, with no case having been reported in Korea. Herein, the case of a 31-year-old man, who developed an epidural abscess 54 days after subcutaneous implantation of an epidural port connected to an epidural catheter, is reported. Methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus was detected in a culture of the purulent discharge. Magnetic resonance imaging was essential, not only for the diagnosis of the epidural abscess, but also for determining the extent of spread. The patient refused further evaluation and treatment, and expired 22 days later.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.434-438
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• 1996

Epidural abscess is associated with placement of epidural catheter is very rare. We experienced two cases of epidural abscess formation after placement of epidural catheter for pain management. A 63 years old female patient received thoracic epidural catheterization for management of pain due to herpes zoster on right T4 dermatome. Two weeks after catheterization, she complained of paraparesis and anesthesia below $T_4$ dermatome. Four weeks later magnetic resonance images was performed and revealed epidural abscess on $T_2-T_5$. Emergent decompressive laminectomy was performed but neurologic symptoms were not improved. In other case, a 75 years old male patient received lumbar epidural catheterization for management of Buerger's disease. About on month later, pus was aspirated from lumbar epidural space. But further evaluation could not be achieved because he wanted to discharge against advice. We emphasize that epidural abscess results sequele serious and prompt diagnosis and treatment is important.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.230-234
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• 1998

Background: Continuous epidural block is widely used for surgical operation and postoperative pain management. The potential infection due to the epidural catheter is a definite harzard of continous epidural block. We investigated the effectiveness of bacterial filter in prevention of infection due to the epidural catheter. Methods: Patients scheduled for transabdominal hysterectomy were assigned to two groups by simple randomization (50 patients per group). All catheters were placed in the 2nd and 3rd lumbar epidural space, using careful sterile technique. Group 1 received injections by the epidural catheter with a bacterial filter and group 2 received injections by the epidural catheter without a bacterial filter. The infection rate in the tips of epidural catheter left for 3 days were compared between the two groups. Results: There was no significant difference in the infection rate between two groups. Conclusions: A bacterial filter of the epidural catheter for surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia dose not prevent all kinds of infection in continuous epidural block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.159-163
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• 1995

Accidental high epidural block is a rare but serious complication. It can result from many factors, which include the volume and concentration of drug, posture, puncture site, age, pregnancy or intra-abdominal mass, and patients' height and weight. We had a case of accidental high epidural block recently. This is a case report which was confirmed by an epiduragram. A healthy 50-year-old woman with a huge uterine myoma was scheduled for a total abdominal hysterectomy under continous epidural analgesia. Epidural catheterization was carried out smoothly. However, an unexpected hypotension was noticed after an epidural injection of 2% lidocaine 25 ml. Thereafter, the patient was intubated and her respiration was controlled during the operation. Using the 5mg of ephedrine, her blood pressure and pulse were well maintained. The scheduled operation was carried out for one hour uneventfully, but after the operation, she felt paresthesia on her hands in the recovery room. To differentiate between the high epidural and the subdural blocks. We injected 5 ml of a water soluble Niopam 300 through the catheter postoperatively. It was observed on the epiduragram that the catheter was placed in the epidural space. It was suggested that the high epidural block was induced from the widespread diffusion through the narrowed epidural space due to the engorgement of the epidural venous plexus by the patient's huge uterine myoma.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.108-113
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• 1999

Background: There is some concern that the administration of epidural analgesia for pain relief during labor increases the likelihood of cesarean delivery. But, several investigators showed a decrease in the rate of emergency cesarean delivery after epidural analgesia. The purpose of this study was to compare the emergency cesarean rate between the two groups with and without epidural analgesia. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records for 7846 parturients admitted our hospital between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1996 and whose attending physician anticipated a normal labor and vaginal delivery. The number of parturients with epidural analgesia using 0.25% bupivacaine with fentanyl were 2839 and parturients without epidural analgesia were 5017. Results: An administration of epidural analgesia was not associated with the incidence of cesarean rate. 149 (5.25%) of 2839 parturients in epidural group and 371 (7.31%) of 5017 parturients in non-epidural group underwent emergency cesarean section. Conclusions: Our retrospective study has shown that an administration of epidural analgesia neither decrease nor increase in the rate of emergency cesarean delivery when compared with a non-epidural analgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2005

Background: An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is usually used for the treatment of low back pain with radiculopathy. An ESI can be performed by two procedures: I) a lumbar or caudal epidural steroid injection and II) a transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Methods: Ninety-three patients, who had undergone transforaminal epidural steroid injection (Group II), and either a lumbar or caudal epidural steroid injection (Group I), were retrospectively studied. The authors assessed the pain, walking, standing improvement and side effects after each procedure, which were evaluated as being very good, good, fair or poor. Data were collected from the patients medical records and analyzed using the chi-squared test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the pain, walking, standing improvement and side effects between the two groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the pain improvement following transforaminal epidural steroid injection in those not effectively responding to an initial lumbar or caudal epidural block in Group II. Conclusions: A transforaminal epidural steroid injection is a useful alternative to a lumbar or caudal epidural steroid injection for low back pain with radiculopathy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.344-348
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• 1996

Continuous epidural block can be useful in the management of acute and chronic pain. For the most effective analgesia, it is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter and the spread of radiopaque dye. Epidural catheterization was performed in 12 patients on the sitting position. Catheters were advanced by 10 cm cephalad in the cervical epidural space by median approach and radiopaque dye 3 ml was injected through the catheters. The position of cervical epidural catheters and the spread of dye was confirmed by radiography. The course of epidural catheter were: coiled 3/12 (25%), loop 2/12 (16.7%), straight 2/12 (16.7%). In 8 cases, the tip of epidural catheters were located within one vertebral segment from the level of insertion site. Radiopaque dye spreaded average 3.68 vertebral segment to cranially and 1.67 vertebral segment to caudally from the insertion site.