Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University

Abstract

We report a case of paraplegia following epidural anesthesia in a male patient who was scheduled to undergo rectal carcinectomy. An epidural catheter was uneventfully inserted at L1-2 interspace before general anesthesia. The patient complained numbness and weakness in lower extremities, and paraplegia was developed with decreased pain and tactile sensation below T10 level at 72 hours postoperatively. MRI demonstrated metastatic spinal tumor at T8-9 level with spinal cord compression. This case suggested that the preexisting spinal pathologies must be considered in determining the causes of severe neurologic complications after central neuraxial block, and MRI should be employed without delay.