Subcutaneous Cervical Emphysema After Labour Epidural Analgesia:

A Clinical Case of an Uncommon Complication

Authors

  • Sara Margarida Rego Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra
  • Carlos Silva
  • Maria Lima
  • Eva Silva
  • Eva Silva
  • Liliana Paulo
  • Marta Azenha

Keywords:

Analgesia, Epidural; Analgesia, Obstetrical; Mediastinal Emphysema; Spontaneous Subcutaneous Emphysema

Abstract

The authors report a rare case of iatrogenic subcutaneous cervical emphysema after lumbar epidural catheter insertion for labour analgesia.

Although lumbar epidural analgesia is the gold standard in labour analgesia, some complications may occur. Subcutaneous emphysema is a rare complication following identification of the epidural space with loss-of-resistance technique with air. Being usually a self-limited condition, the treatment is conservative. Its resolution is dependent on the amount of air trapped and usually resolves in a few days.

One way to avoid this complication is the use of saline solution in the loss of resistance technique for identification of the epidural space. If loss of resistance to the injection of air is to be used, it is necessary to adopt some preventive measures.

 

 

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References

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Published

2019-04-03

How to Cite

Rego, S. M., Silva, C., Lima, M., Silva, E., Silva, E., Paulo, L., & Azenha, M. (2019). Subcutaneous Cervical Emphysema After Labour Epidural Analgesia:: A Clinical Case of an Uncommon Complication. Journal of the Portuguese Society of Anesthesiology, 28(1), 63–66. Retrieved from https://revistas.rcaap.pt/anestesiologia/article/view/16415

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 1 (2019): Revista da Sociedade Portuguesa de Anestesiologia

Section

Case Report

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