Epidural abscess in an obstetric patient

Abstract

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare complication, it can be cause a high morbimortality and the prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential. Our patient present an abscess after epidural block for caesarean section, the anesthetic procedure was in aseptic technique and the catheter was withdrawn after surgery, the patient was discharged after 48 hours. She was readmitted nine days later with fever, left leg pain and wound surgery infection. The magnetic resonance showed a spinal epidural abscess in L3-L4. Underwent laminectomy cultured showed Escherichia coli, she was at hospital by intravenous antibiotic treatment for 4 weeks and she was discharged without neurologic sequelae.