Intermittent Cerebrospinal Leak After Inadvertent Dural Puncture During Epidural Catheter Placement for Postoperative Analgesia

Abstract

Regional anesthesia is being used more frequently in pediatric anesthesia practice, including the perioperative care of neonates and infants. Adverse effects may be encountered during epidural needle placement, with catheter advancement, or subsequently during infusion of local anesthetic agents. We present the rare occurrence of a persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak following inadvertent dural puncture (wet tap) during attempted placement of an epidural catheter in a 6-year-old child. Potential adverse effects of epidural anesthesia in children are discussed, and options for treatment of a persistent CSF leak after inadvertent dural puncture are reviewed.

J Med Cases. 2022;13(7):318-321
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3931