Transient Horner's syndrome during lumbar epidural anaesthesia

Epidural analgesia is a common procedure during labour. Neurological complications during pregnancy and labour in particular can indicate serious underlying pathology that may require urgent intervention to prevent permanent damage. The development of Horner's syndrome may, for instance indicate a variety of acute neurological conditions including carotid dissection. We describe a patient who developed Horner's syndrome during epidural anaesthesia. We discuss possible causes and emphasize that this may have a benign aetiology and following a careful clinical evaluation, may not require any investigation.