Epidural anaesthesia with chloroprocaine. Delayed onset, extensive spread, and prolonged duration

A case report of continuous lumbar epidural anaesthesia with chloroprocaine is described in which delayed onset, extensive and delayed spread, and prolonged duration were observed. Although placement of neither the needle nor the catheter was confirmed radiographically, the anaesthetic course may be consistent with extra-arachnoid subdural injection of the local anaesthetic solution. Other reported cases, with similar features and which may be explained in the same way, are also discussed.