Spinal epidural abscess - A rare complication after epidural analgesia for labour and delivery

Abstract

We report a case of spinal epidural abscess formation after short-term epidural catheter placement for analgesia during labour and delivery. The patient was previously healthy and did not have any predisposing factors. Increasing back pain was the only complaint. A contrast-enhanced CT study on day 5 was inconclusive. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed and showed a large triangular-shaped abscess with adjacent inflammation of the paravertebral muscles. One day later, the patient developed a sensory deficit in the left lower limb. The neurological deficit completely resolved after surgical decompression and debridement, which was followed by antibiotic treatment. © The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia 2004.