Case Report : Breakage of a thoracic epidural catheter during its removal

The breakage of an epidural catheter is a rare complication during the removal of a thoracic epidural catheter. There are many causes to breakage of an epidural catheter, such as the characteristics of the catheter itself, patient`s factors (anatomy, position during insertion and removal of the cath...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Korean journal of anesthesiology 2010-06, Vol.58 (6), p.569
Main Authors: Yong Ho Lee, Hee Youn Hwang, Woo Seok Sim, Mikyung Yang, Chul Joong Lee
Format: Article
Language:Korean
Subjects:
Breakage
Catheter
Complications
Epidural
Thoracic
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Summary:The breakage of an epidural catheter is a rare complication during the removal of a thoracic epidural catheter. There are many causes to breakage of an epidural catheter, such as the characteristics of the catheter itself, patient`s factors (anatomy, position during insertion and removal of the catheter, and the BMI), and the difficulty of the procedure. Surgical removal is considered if there is a possibility that the retained catheter might cause neurological problems. We experienced a breakage of an epidural catheter during its removal, which led to surgical intervention. To prevent the catheter breakage during its removal, the catheter should be withdrawn without excessive tension. In addition, an understanding of the patient`s anatomy is essential. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2010;58:569-572)
ISSN:2005-6419