Inadvertent Placement of Thoracic Epidural Catheter in Pleural Cavity: A Case Report and Review of Published Literature

Thoracic epidural placement is considered the gold standard for pain management for abdominal or thoracic surgery. It provides analgesia superior to that provided by opioids with a decreased risk of pulmonary complications. Insertion of a thoracic epidural catheter requires the knowledge and expertise of an anesthetist; epidural catheter insertion may be challenging especially when sited in the higher thoracic region, in patients with unusual neuraxial anatomy, patients unable to position adequately for insertion or morbidly obese patients. Postoperatively the anesthetic team is required to look after the patient and assess for any complications such as hypotension. Even though the incidence of complications may be low; however, some of these could have detrimental consequences for the patients such as epidural abscess, hematoma formation, and temporary or permanent neurological damage. In this case report, we will discuss a patient who underwent a three-stage esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma under general anesthesia with epidural analgesia. The epidural catheter (Portex® Epidural Minipack System with NRFit® connector, ICUmedical, USA) was found in the intrapleural space during video-assisted thoracoscopy for the thoracic part of esophagectomy. To facilitate surgical access, the catheter was removed immediately, and the patient was given patient-controlled analgesia with morphine for postoperative pain control.