Abstract

BLOCKAGE OF EPIDURAL CATHETER WITHIN CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

Failure to inject a drug through the epidural catheter because of epidural catheter connector malfunction is a rare complication. In this report, we describe a case of epidural catheter – connector malfunction in a 45 years old male undergoing emergency explorative laparotomy for haemoperitoneum under general anaesthesia and insertion of epidural catheter for post operative analgesia. After insertion of catheter after completion of surgery, drug could not be injected in the catheter. After common causes like kinking, knotting, occluded catheter were ruled out, the cause was found to be in the epidural catheter connector assembly which is not encountered frequently. This case warrants that anaesthesiologists must also be aware of rare causes and the preventive steps to avoid such complications.

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