[Claude Bernard-Horner syndrome and lumbar epidural analgesia]

Lumbar epidural analgesia was performed in a 28 year old primigravida through a L2-L3 catheter. The first dose induced satisfactory analgesia for 1 h. After the second dose of 8 ml of 0.25 bupivacaine, the patient's systolic blood pressure fell from 110 to 80 mmHg. As vena caval compression can contribute to hypotension, the patient was immediately placed in the left lateral position and oxygen was administered through a mask. Rapid infusion of 250 ml of modified gelatin resulted in a prompt and lasting restoration of blood pressure to its initial level. The third dose of 8 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine produced satisfactory analgesia without any adverse effect. The last dose (4 ml of 0.50% bupivacaine administered with the patient in half sitting) gave a left-sided Horner's syndrome and weakness in the left arm. An epidurogram, performed through the catheter 2 h after delivery, with the patient lying supine, showed unilateral left spread ascending to upper thoracic levels with delayed spread toward the right lumbar epidural space. The troubles persisted 6 h after the final bupivacaine dose, then resolving completely.