A case is presented of a 70-year-old man who developed progressive quadriplegia associated with epidural catheterization while on anticoagulation therapy. At operation a large liquid epidural haematoma was found extending from c-3 to l-2. Essentially no recovery of function was noted to time of death. If epidural anaesthesia is to be used in anticoagulated patients, there must be recognition of the signs of onset of neurological complications so that surgical therapy is instituted immediately rather than after a delay of several hours. On cite le cas ďun homme de 70 ans qui a presente une quadriplegie progressive au cours ďun catheterisme epidural alors que ce malade etait soumis a un traite-ment anticoagulant. A ľoperation on a trouve un hematome liquide considerable qui s’etendait de c-3 a l-2. On n’a note aucun retour de fonction jusqu’a la mort du patient. Si on doit utiliser ľanesthesie epidurale chez les malades soumis aux anticoagulants, il faut noter precocement les signes de complications neurologiques afin que le traitement chirurgical soit pratique immediatement plutot qu’apres un delai de plusieurs heures.
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Butler et al. (1972) studied this question.