PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Duarte, Ana Mendes
AU  - Leiria, Nuno
AU  - Pires, Rafael
AU  - Cortez, Mariana
TI  - #36246 Arising from the bottom – a rare complication of a thoracic epidural catheter
AID  - 10.1136/rapm-2023-ESRA.335
DP  - 2023 Sep 01
TA  - Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
PG  - A185--A185
VI  - 48
IP  - Suppl 1
4099  - http://rapm.bmj.com/content/48/Suppl_1/A185.2.short
4100  - http://rapm.bmj.com/content/48/Suppl_1/A185.2.full
SO  - Reg Anesth Pain Med2023 Sep 01; 48
AB  - Please confirm that an ethics committee approval has been applied for or granted: Not relevant (see information at the bottom of this page)Background and Aims This case reports a rare thoracic epidural induced priapism and evidences the importance of prompt recognition and treatment to preserve erectile function.Methods A 44-year-old, male, ASA II, underwent exploratory laparotomy and sigmoidectomy. Prior to general anesthesia induction, a thoracic epidural catheter was inserted at T10-T11. An initial bolus of 7 mL ropivacaine 0.2% was administered and sensory block was distributed from T6 level. No intercurrences were reported during the procedure and the patient was transferred to PACU with an epidural infusion of ropivacaine 0.15% at 5 mL/h. An erection was observed 13 hours postoperative. The epidural infusion was discontinued and Urology was consulted. Blood was aspirated from the corpora cavernosa to induce detumescence, which was unsuccessful. An injection of diluted epinephrine was then administered. No more erections were reported after discontinuation of the epidural infusion. The patient was referred to urology consultation and discharged.Results In our case, we hypothesize that epidural was responsible for the low-flow priapism, considering the absence of direct trauma or hematological disease, uncorrelation of the surgical site with erectile physiology and priapism reversal following discontinuation of the epidural infusion. Priapism has been previously reported as a complication of epidural injection with opioids or in combination with local anaesthesia1-3.Conclusions This is a rare complication with unknown incidence and poorly understood pathophysiology. Nonwithstanding, prompt identification is vital to prevent permanent damage. Otherwise, it may lead to emergency intervention as described here. Awareness must be raised regarding epidural- induced priapism to ensure early identification.Attachment 20230506090323 (1).pdf