RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 When to Remove an Epidural Catheter in a Parturient with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
JF Regional Anesthesia: The Journal of Neural Blockade in Obstetrics, Surgery, & Pain Control
JO Reg Anesth Pain Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 351
OP 354
DO 10.1136/rapm-00115550-199217060-00008
VO 17
IS 6
A1 Sprung, Juraj
A1 Cheng, Eugene Y.
A1 Patel, Smita
YR 1992
UL http://rapm.bmj.com/content/17/6/351.abstract
AB Background and Objectives. Pain from labor and delivery is often attenuated with epidural anesthesia. A complication of indwelling epidural catheters is intraspinal hematoma. The development of a bleeding diathesis can worsen complications markedly.Conclusions. Frequent assessment of neurologic status is important until the underlying cause of the coagulopathy can be treated and the bleeding resolves. If there is no indication of intraspinal bleeding, we recommend removing the catheter because of potential catheter migration. If bleeding is occurring around the catheter insertion site and possibly in the epidural or subarachnoid space, the catheter may be left in place to tamponade the insertion site. In cases of intraspinal hematoma, which can cause neurologic deficits, immediate decompression surgery is needed.