Combined minimally invasive techniques to cure accidental dural tears occurring during spine surgery: epidural blood patch associated with cerebrospinal fluid drainage and ventral bed rest

Acta Anaesthesiol Belg. 2016;67(3):143-147.

Abstract

We report the case of a 70-year-old man, with increased anesthetic risk, who beneficiated from a lumbar laminarthrectomy from lumbar vertebra 4 (L4) to sacral 1 (S1). A dural tear facing L5-S 1 levels occurred during surgery and was repaired intra-operatively. Postoperatively, back and radicular pain symptoms appeared along with a pseudo-meningocele. Successful treatment was only achieved after performing an epidural blood patch and closed subarachnoid drainage. This well-known but infrequent management was undertaken after a first epidural blood patch attempt, and after two unsuccessful surgical choking procedures. Management is here described, and discussed at the light of existing literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bed Rest*
  • Blood Patch, Epidural*
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak
  • Decompression, Surgical
  • Dura Mater / diagnostic imaging
  • Dura Mater / injuries*
  • Dura Mater / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Complications / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Intraoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Intraoperative Complications / surgery*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / methods*
  • Spinal Stenosis / surgery
  • Spine / surgery*
  • Subarachnoid Space / surgery
  • Suction