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Case Report
Early Diagnosis of a Spinal Epidural Abscess
  1. Paul C. Reynolds, M.D.* and
  2. Marc B. Hahn, D.O.**
  1. From the Department of Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC
  2. *Anesthesiology Resident, Anesthesia and Operative Service, Department of Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC
  3. **Director, Pain Management Section, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC; Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

Abstract

Epidural abscess is a neurologic emergency. Diagnosis may be difficult and costly to patients and health care providers in terms of time and money expended. We present a case of epidural abscess diagnosed in a cancer patient with an implanted epidural catheter. Diagnostic studies were performed that documented the presence of a spinal epidural abscess. Routine aspiration of an implanted epidural catheter facilitated the early diagnosis of epidural abscess in our patient prior to the performance of these studies.

  • Epidural
  • abscess

https://doi.org/10.1136/rapm-00115550-199116010-00013

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