Treatment of persistent cerebrospinal fluid leakage with a catheter-over-needle type catheter for intrathecal analgesia in a cancer patient

Abstract

We report treatment of leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at the catheter insertion site after conventional intrathecal catheterization with a catheter-over-needle type catheter. A 63 year-old woman had pain in the buttock due to recurrence of rectal cancer. Intrathecal catheterization was performed with a conventional 18 gauge epidural needle through which an epidural catheter was threaded in the intrathecal space. The pain improved after intrathecal administration of analgesics; however, CSF leakage persisted. A catheter-over-needle type was inserted 7 days after the first catheterization. The CSF leakage stopped. We suggest that a catheter-over-needle be used for long-term intrathecal analgesia to avoid possible CSF leakage.