Acute Pain
Volume 9, Issue 1 , Pages 35-38, March 2007

Spinal epidural abscess and meningitis following an epidural catheterisation☆

  • Vijay B. Bandikatla

      Affiliations

    • Accident & Emergency, Wishaw General Hospital, North Lanarkshire NHS Trust, Wishaw, Scotland ML2 7PD, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44 1698372637.
    • ,
  • B. Rizwan

      Affiliations

    • Critical Care Directorate, Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Dartford, Kent DA2 8DA, UK
    • ,
  • A. Skalimis

      Affiliations

    • Critical Care Directorate, Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Dartford, Kent DA2 8DA, UK
    • ,
  • H. Patel

      Affiliations

    • Critical Care Directorate, Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Dartford, Kent DA2 8DA, UK

Received 16 August 2006; received in revised form 5 October 2006; accepted 13 October 2006.

Summary 

We present a case of spinal epidural abscess (SEA) following a short-term epidural catheterisation for post-operative pain relief. Preoperative investigations showed no derangement in coagulation as well as full blood counts. The diagnosis of SEA was made within three days of accidental dislodgement of the catheter. By the fifth post-operative day, signs of meningitis and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the blood and from the epidural catheterisation site were identified. The microbiologist, neurologist and neurosurgeon were involved from the beginning. An early magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan, initiation of appropriate management, repeat MRI scans and regular follow-up prevented further morbidity.

Keywords: Epidural abscess, Epidural catheterisation, Post-operative pain

 

☆ The following case was reported in the Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, Kent DA2 8DA, UK.

PII: S1366-0071(06)00181-1

doi:10.1016/j.acpain.2006.10.002

Acute Pain
Volume 9, Issue 1 , Pages 35-38, March 2007

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