Epidural haematoma after a combined spinal-epidural anaesthetic in a patient treated with clopidogrel and dalteparin

Abstract

We report a case of a spinal-epidural haematoma occurring in a patient after a combined spinal-epidural anaesthetic. She had been taking clopidogrel and had received perioperative dalteparin for thromboprophylaxis. Despite adhering to standard guidelines concerning administration of low molecular weight heparin perioperatively and stopping the clopidogrel 7 days before the anaesthetic, the patient developed an epidural haematoma. © The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia 2005. All rights reserved.