[Knot in a thoracic epidural catheter]

F Fischer1, O Helms, J-G Hentz

  • 1Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 place de l'Hôpital, Strasbourg, France. ffischer67@free.fr

We report a case of impossible injection into a thoracic epidural catheter associated with a difficult withdrawal of this catheter after its introduction on the T3-T4 level. Thanks to a gentle and continuous traction, the catheter was finally successfully removed without being broken, but presented a simple knot at 13mm from its end. No neurological complication was observed later on. This complication happened during the introduction of the catheter at the thoracic level where anatomic conditions are less favorable for this kind of complication to happen than at the lumbar level. We have been probably confronted with a catheter taking an abnormal direction due to an anatomic structure. This case shows us that knots in an epidural catheter are also possible on the high thoracic level and that its ascent within the epidural space must happen without any resistance.

Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview01:28

Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview

Cardiac catheterization is an invasive diagnostic technique used to identify and evaluate structural and functional diseases of the heart and major blood vessels. This technique diagnoses congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and coronary spasms and assesses ventricular function. It helps guide treatment decisions, including the need for revascularization procedures like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and...
Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis01:26

Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis

Thoracentesis(Thoracocentesis), commonly known as pleural tap, is a medical procedure where a 22 gauge needle is inserted into the pleural space, the area between the lung and chest wall. This procedure is commonly performed to diagnose or treat various respiratory disorders.
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...
Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management01:26

Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management

Nursing responsibilities before cardiac catheterization include:Assess for allergies and establish baseline health status.Before cardiac catheterization, assess the patient for allergies to contrast dye. Perform a comprehensive baseline assessment, including vital signs, heart and breath sounds, and a neurovascular assessment of the extremities, noting distal pulses, skin color, and temperature. Instruct the patient to fast for 8-12 hours before the procedure. Evaluate baseline laboratory...