Inadvertent Placement of Epidural Catheter in the Extra-epidural Space - Two case reports -

Although epidural block is a well-established anesthetic method, we often experience a failed epidural block.The success rate of epidural block is dependent on the accurate identification of the epidural space and successful location of the catheter within the epidural space.Rarely, it is missed to identify the epidural space with a loss of resistance method due to a variable anatomy of the epidural structure.Occasionally, an epidural catheter may pass into the extra-epidural space.We report 2 cases of misplacement of an epidural catheter in the extra-epidural space.These cases highlights the need for careful identification of the epidural space during epidural puncture and confirming the location for successful placement of the catheter within the epidural space by using a test block with a test dose of the local anesthetic drug after epidural catheterization.(Korean J Anesthesiol 2008; 54: 335∼8)