Extensive sensory block caused by accidental subdural catheterization during epidural labor analgesia.

A 32-year-old parturient requested epidural analgesia for labor. A lumbar epidural block was performed at the L1-2 interspace. Thirty minutes after the loading dose of the local anesthetic mixture, she suffered numbness in both arms and high sensory block up to the C6 dermatome without significant motor blockade.

Comparison of patient-controlled epidural analgesia and continuous epidural infusion for labor analgesia.

Background: In recent years, patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) has been developed as an attractive alternative to continuous epidural infusion (CEI) for labor pain control. PCEA is still not popular for labor pain control in Taiwan and disparities may exist between different ethnic and cultural groups toward the attitude of labor pain control. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there were any differences between PCEA and CEI in the maintenance of epidural analgesia for Taiwanese parturients undergoing spontaneous delivery.

Airway obstruction by a metastatic mediastinal tumor during anesthesia.

A case of low back pain syndrome was diagnosed due to spinal metastasis with unknown primary origin. During anesthesia for surgical stabilization, unexpected airway obstruction occurred after endotracheal intubation. Fiber-optic bronchoscopic examination showed narrowing of the trachea and main bronchi caused by extrinsic compression.

Paraplegia by acute cervical disc protrusion after lumbar spine surgery.

Non-traumatic paraplegia caused by herniation of the cervical intervertebral disc is an uncommon postoperative complication. A patient with claudication and radiculopathy was scheduled for lumbar laminectomy due to spinal stenosis. Postoperatively, numbness below T6 was found in his both legs of the patient.