Abstract
A 38-year-old man underwent continuous lumbar epidural anesthesia for laparoscopy.
When removal of the catheter was attempted, it was found to be firmly fixed in the back and could not be removed even with the patient maximally flexed.
After laparoscopy, anterior-posterior and lateral roentgenographs were taken by injection of contrast media through the catheter, and it was found that the catheter looped in the epidural space.
After making another attempt, we succeeded to remove the catheter without severance. But examination of the catheter revealed that it was severely extended and almost severed.
We warned that there is the possibility of difficult removal and severance of epidural catheter at any time.
