Lumbar epidural hematoma following epidural anesthesia

A 68-year-old woman who developed a lumbar epidural hematoma following epidural anesthesia is described. The patient had severe lumbar spondylosis and osteoporosis that had not been recognized before her initial gynecological operation. Despite the delayed laminectomy, the patient experienced a complete neurological recovery.     

Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma of idiopathic etiology: case report and review of literature

Context

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare idiopathic condition that leads to acute onset of neurological deficits, which if not recognized early can have catastrophic consequences. The definition and pathophysiology of this condition remain controversial. High index of suspicion followed by T2-weighted gradient echo sequences are particularly useful in early diagnosis. Management consists of prompt surgical decompression of the hematoma though a recent trend is toward non-surgical treatment.

Findings

A 70-year-old man presented with acute onset neck pain with a radicular component and rapidly progressive quadriparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a posteriorly located cervical extradural hematoma with cord compression that was promptly evacuated. Functional recovery to near normal function occurred within 24 hours of surgery.

Conclusion

SSEH in its true idiopathic form is a rare pathologic entity. Because of the high risk of poor outcome without treatment, SSEH should be a diagnostic possibility when presentation is even slightly suggestive. Prompt surgical evacuation of the hematoma leads to a favorable neurological outcome, whereas delay in treatment can be disastrous. The role of conservative management needs to be proven and should be tailored on an individual basis.     

Spinal epidural hematoma

Three cases of spinal epidural hematoma are reported, one lumbar, another cervical, and the third thoracic. All were dorsolaterally localized, the first and the third were dependent on anticoagulant therapy, and the second was spontaneous. In addition to the symptoms of sudden onset, acute spinal pain, flaccid paralysis, and loss of sphincter control, the second case had the exceptional picture of a cervical anterior spinal cord syndrome with preoperative transient improvement, followed by the development of Brown-Séquard syndrome with subsequent deterioration. This case was diagnosed by means of computed tomography. The postoperative course has been satisfactory in all patients, with complete recovery in two.     

Spinal subarachnoid hematoma of spontaneous origin and complicating anticoagulation. Report of four cases and review of the literature

Four cases of spinal subarachnoid hematoma are reported and three cases from the literature reviewed. Clinical presentation is characterized by a combination of back pain and meningismus and progressive compression of the spinal cord. Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis are discussed. Information obtained from myelography was limited, and two patients underwent operation without it. Prognosis for functional recovery is poor unless decompression is performed at an early stage.     

Spontaneous resolution and complete recovery of spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma: Report of two cases and literature review

Objective

To present the natural course and treatment modalities of spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma (SCEH), by reporting two rare cases with spontaneous resolution in both clinical and radiologic findings without surgery.

急性自发性椎管内硬膜外血肿的临床特征及治疗

目的:总结急性自发性椎管内硬膜外血肿(acute spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma,ASSEH)的临床和影像学特征,探讨其治疗方法及预后.方法:收集我院2005年1月～2020年12月收治的27例ASSEH患者的临床和影像学资料,回顾性分析病因、临床表现、影像学特征、治疗过程、手...     

Spinal epidural abscess — review of 10 cases

Summary Abscess formation in the spinal epidural space is a very rare lesion, occurring once in 10,000 admissions to a tertiary centre and often requiring emergency neurosurgical treatment commonly presenting late.We present our experience of ten cases of spinal epidural abscess treated at our institution between January 1984 and July 1994 and review the most recent literature.     

Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma: Report of a case managed conservatively

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a rare cause of acute spinal cord compression. A 25-year-old male presented with a history of sudden onset of complete quadriplegia with sensory loss below the neck along with loss of bowel and bladder control. He had no history of any constitutional symptoms. He reported 10 days later. He was managed conservatively and after two weeks of intensive rehabilitation he had complete neural recovery.The spontaneous recovery of neurological impairment is attributed to the spreading of the hematoma throughout the epidural space, thus decreasing the pressure with partial neural recovery.Conservative treatment is a fair option in young patients who present late and show neurological improvement. The neurological status on presentation will guide the further approach to management.     

Huge epidural hematoma after surgery for spinal cord stimulation

Summary Objective and importance. Spinal epidural haematoma (SEH) following implantation of an epidural spinal cord electrode is a very rare complication but one that must not be overlooked. This case is unusual because of the almost holocord extension of the haematoma and the excellent recovery obtained by prompt surgical treatment.Clinical presentation. A 69 years old man with normal serum coagulation parameters was submitted to spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for chronic pain syndrome. After a minimal L1 laminotomy the patient developed paraplegia due to a large haematoma at D4-L2.Intervention. Surgical removal of the entire clot by a D4-L2 laminectomy was performed immediately.Conclusion. Large epidural haematoma can result from SCS and this complication may be cured by appropriate and prompt surgery.     

Spinal epidural hematoma following epidural catheter removal during antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol

A 90-year-old man underwent emergency thrombectomy for acute occlusion of the right femoral and popliteal arteries. After an epidural catheter (used for intraoperative/postoperative management) was removed, a spinal epidural hematoma involving the Th12 to L3 areas developed. Emergency removal of the hematoma and decompression of the spinal cord were performed. Possibly, the hematoma had developed due to therapy with an antiplatelet agent, cilostazol, which had been started on the first postoperative day, and due to the removal of the catheter, on the third postoperative day, in addition to the patient's advanced age. This case may be the first report of spinal epidural hematoma associated with both cilostazol and epidural anesthesia. From the time course in this patient, important knowledge of drug actions and follow-up may be gained for determining the timing of catheter removal in a patient receiving antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol.     

Spinal epidural hematoma following epidural anesthesia versus spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma. Two case reports

Two cases of lumbar hemorrhage with subsequent persistent neurologic sequelae are presented and their possible causes are discussed in the context of a literature review: one patient with spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma with no trauma or lumbar puncture and one with spinal epidural hematoma associated with preceding epidural catheterization for postoperative pain relief. The subdural hematoma was associated with a thrombocytopenia of about 90,000/microliters due to intraoperative blood loss. This might have been contributory to the formation or expansion of the hematoma, but it is not convincing since a platelet count of this amount should not lead to spontaneous bleeding. Both patients received low-dose heparin, but since coagulation tests were normal, prolonged bleeding does not appear to be a likely cause, although it cannot be excluded. In conclusion, the reasons for both hematoma remain unclear. With regard to the epidural hematoma and low-dose heparinization, the possible coincidence of spontaneous lumbar hematoma and lumbar regional block should be taken into consideration.     

Thoracic epidural anesthesia and epidural hematoma

This report involves a 74-year-old-male who developed a thoracic epidural hematoma with paraparesis on the second postoperative day in conjunction with thoracic epidural anesthesia established before surgery for acute abdominal aortic dissection. The finding indicates that laminectomy can be performed successfully as late as three days after diagnosis of the hematoma, with a complete restitution of neurological function. High-dose steroid treatment may have been a contributing factor for the positive outcome.     

Chronic spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma simulating a lumbar stenosis

Summary A case of a patient with a clinical picture of lumbar spine stenosis actually caused by a chronic, spontaneous, spinal epidural hematoma is reported. There was no history of major or minor trauma to the lumbar spine. The correct preoperative diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging. The possible etiology and clinical and radiological findings and treatment of this rare entity are discussed.     

Delayed post-traumatic epidural hematoma. A review

Post-traumatic acute epidural hematoma (EDH) is generally visible on the CT scan done immediately after admission: occasionally, it only comes to light at a later scan and is then termed delayed (DEDH). Since the introduction of CT, the frequency of this occurrence has gone up from 6–13% to 30%.The mechanisms responsible for the delayed appearance of the epidural hematoma a tamponade effect are usually increased endocranial pressure and post-traumatic arterial hypotension as well as, in a limited number of cases, coagulopathy, CSF drainage, and arterio-venous shunt.The authors report 5 of their own cases and 45 published cases and discuss the characteristics of this particular form of hematoma and its outcome.     

Neurologic symptoms after epidural anaesthesia. Report of three cases

We describe 3 patients, who exhibited neurological symptoms after single dose epidural anaesthesia. In patient 1 an unrecognized spinal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) caused paraparesis following epidural block. The dilated veins draining an AVF are space–occupying structures and the injection of the anaesthetic solution may have precipitated latent ischaemic hypoxia of the spinal cord due to raised venous pressure. In patient 2, epidural block was followed by postoperative permanent saddle pain and hypoaesthesia. The injection of the anaesthetic in a narrow spinal canal with multiple discal protrusions and restriction of interlaminar foramina may have acutely produced mechanical compression of the spinal cord or roots. Patient 3 exhibited post–epidural block spinal arachnoiditis. Although the few reported cases of this syndrome exhibit severe neurological damage, our patient presented with scarse symptoms.
Our cases point out the importance of accurate neurological history and examination of candidates for epidural anaesthesia and of accurate anaesthetic history for neurological patients.     

椎管内非霍奇金淋巴瘤误诊为硬膜外血肿1例

正患者,男,21岁,以"外伤后胸背部疼痛、双下肢瘫痪1月余"为主诉入院。患者于1个月前溜冰时摔倒致伤,当时感胸背部疼痛,未做任何检查,在家休养,外敷膏药治疗,于2周前开始出现双下肢无力、行走不稳,在当地诊所输液治疗(用药不详),3 d前双下肢无力症状加重、无法下地行走,于12 h前出现大小便功能障碍,遂由家人急诊送至我院。胸椎CT提示"T3椎体形态改变、T3椎体骨质不连续"。患者平素无发热、消     

Recurrent idiopathic epidural hematoma: a case report

Spinal epidural hematoma is a relatively rare condition in children. We report the case of a 6-year-old girl who presented to a regional hospital with the complaints of severe thoracic back pain, neck stiffness, and gait disturbance of sudden onset. Clinical examination revealed no obvious cause for the symptoms. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the presence of an epidural mass lesion extending from T1 to T3, compressing the spinal cord; the findings suggested a diagnosis of idiopathic spinal epidural hematoma. Twelve days after admission, the patient was transferred to our hospital for further observation. Blood tests, including a coagulation profile, were normal. At 22 days after the initial presentation, repeat MRI revealed resolution of the hematoma, with the mass showing an appreciable decrease in size. The patient became symptom-free and was walking normally at the time of discharge 28 days after her initial presentation. At 59 days after the initial presentation, she was readmitted with complaints of a sudden recurrence of back pain and weakness of both legs. Repeat MRI at this time revealed reappearance of the spinal epidural hematoma at the same level. Operative evacuation of the hematoma was performed 3 days after the diagnosis of the recurrence, with laminoplasty from T1 to T3. At a clinical review conducted 30 months after the operation, the patient remained symptom-free. Idiopathic resolution of a spinal epidural hematoma has previously been reported in 36 patients. However, we found no record in the literature of any case in which an epidural hematoma recurred following earlier MRI-confirmed idiopathic resolution.     

Epidural hematoma after thoracic epidural catheter removal in the absence of risk factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report is to enhance awareness that an epidural hematoma can occur even in patients devoid of risk factors. CASE REPORT: A 69-year-old, 55-kg male was scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic resection of bilateral pulmonary metastases and received combined thoracic epidural and general anesthesia. The epidural catheter insertion was unremarkable. All laboratory values were within normal values. No anticoagulation or antiplatelet drugs were administered. The epidural catheter was removed on postoperative day 2. The patient developed signs of an epidural hematoma a few hours later and was treated by decompressive laminectomy. Full neurologic recovery was observed after a 6-month period. CONCLUSION: Catheter removal is a critical period for epidural hematoma formation even if no risk factors are identified. Early recognition and treatment are essential features for good neurologic recovery after an epidural hematoma.