[Intraspinal hematoma after thoracic epidural analgesia]

In one year three patients were operated on for spinal haematomas following thoracic epidural analgesia. All three patients experienced back pain and developed progressive paraparesis, one in connection with insertion of the catheter and two after its removal. A spinal block was visualized using MRI in two patients and myelography in one. The patients were operated on with posterior decompression. In two patients an epidural haematoma was evacuated. Both patients recovered neurologic function, one completely. The third patient, who had a subarachnoidal hemorrhage and an intramedullar haematoma, remained paralytic.