Epidural hematoma during anticoagulant therapy is a rare complication of central neural blockade, but it may result in serious neurologic sequelae. A 61-year-old male reciving warfarin due to heart failure was referred to the pain clinic for
control of
severe herapetic neuralgia. Epidural catheterization was done at T89 interspace. At that time, PT and aPTT were extremely prolonged. The next morning, severe back pain, motor paralysis and urinary difficulty developed. On spine MRI, epidural
hematoma
was detected at T89 interspace. Four days later, he died due to underlying diseases. Centrl neural blockade in patient with anticoagulant therapy is contraindicated in most cases. If is undertaken, close observation of patients's neurologic
functions
and monitoring of coagulation profiles (PT, aPTT, etc) are necessary. If epidrual hematoma develops, early surgical decompression is mandatory.
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