J Korean Pain Soc.  1997 May;10(1):134-137.

Cauda Equina Syndrome following Caudal Anesthesia in a Patient with Metastatic Spine Tumor

• Lee JH
• Park SH
• Lee KN
• Moon JI

Abstract

We report a case of cauda equina syndrome following caudal anesthesia possibly caused by metastatic spine tumor. Male, 80-year-old, who had prostatic carcinoma with L3 and L4 spine metastasis was scheduled for bilateral orchiectomy. Twenty two-gauge needle was introduced at sacral hiatus and 15 ml of 2% lidocaine administered. The next morning, patient complained of perineal numbness and urination difficulty. During the next several day patient had episodes of fecal incontinence and motor weakness on both lower extremities. This case reminded us that neuroaxial blocks such as spinal, epidural and caudal anesthesia, should be used with extreme care in patients having neoplasm with high incidence of spine metastasis.

Keyword

Anesthetic techniques, caudal; Complications, cauda equina syndrome

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Anesthesia, Caudal*
Cauda Equina*
Fecal Incontinence
Humans
Hypesthesia
Incidence
Lidocaine
Lower Extremity
Male
Needles
Neoplasm Metastasis
Orchiectomy
Polyradiculopathy*
Spine*
Urination
Lidocaine