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Updated: Apr 20, 2026

A Modified Method for Intrathecal Catheterization in Rats
Published on: February 14, 2025
A patient who received clopidogrel with an indwelling epidural catheter
Joshua Hamburger1, Ira S Hofer2, Yury Khelemsky3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10128, USA.
Insights
Managing patients requiring clopidogrel after epidural placement needs vigilance. Platelet transfusions can mitigate risks associated with neuraxial techniques and antiplatelet therapy, preventing complications like epidural hematoma.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Anesthesiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Drug-eluting stents necessitate antiplatelet therapy, such as clopidogrel, for secondary prevention.
- Thoracic epidural analgesia is a common perioperative technique for thoracotomy.
- Concurrent use of neuraxial techniques and antiplatelet agents poses bleeding risks, including epidural hematoma.
Abstract:
A patient with a drug-eluting stent placed 18 months earlier received a thoracic epidural for perioperative analgesic control as part of her thoracotomy. Postoperatively, the patient was started on clopidogrel for secondary prevention. After consultation with the Hematology service and a platelet function assay, the patient was transfused two pools of platelets and the epidural catheter was removed on postoperative day 4. The patient then underwent hourly neurologic checks for 24 hours and was discharged several days later without any negative sequelae. If neuraxial techniques and the need for clopidogrel prophylaxis come into direct conflict, vigilance is necessary for warning signs of epidural hematoma and platelet transfusion should be considered to reverse the effects of the drug.
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