Epidural abscess in an obstetric patient with patient-controlled epidural analgesia - a case report

We present the case of a 37-year-old pregnant woman who underwent a cesarean section due to previous cesarean delivery. Spinal anesthesia was performed at the L2-3 intervertebral space with an epidural catheter inserted at L1-2 for postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia. When the epidural catheter was removed on day three, an area of redness round the entry point was noted and the patient complained of low back pain, but was discharged from hospital. Later the same day, she felt backache so severe that she was unable to stand up or bend her body. She called for help and was sent to our emergency room. Physicians noted a small amount of discharge from the insertion site, and the body temperature was elevated to 38 degrees C. An anesthesiologist and an infectious disease specialist were consulted, and an epidural abscess was suspected. Urgent magnetic resonance imaging revealed an epidural abscess at L1-2. After five days of unsuccessful treatment with oxacillin, a 28-day course of vancomycin, followed by two months of oral fusidic acid, resulted in complete remission of the epidural abscess. The patient has remained free of neurologic deficit. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.