Southern medical journal
-
Southern medical journal · Jun 1990
ReviewMaternal paraparesis after epidural anesthesia and cesarean section.
Continuous epidural infusion of local anesthetics containing epinephrine has become increasingly popular. This technique has been associated with few, if any, complications. We have presented a case of anterior spinal artery syndrome with paraparesis after continuous lumbar epidural infusion of an anesthetic during labor and subsequent emergency cesarean section.
-
We have presented the case of an elderly woman with severe kyphoscoliosis, osteoarthritis and left knee effusion who had symptoms and signs of intermittent intestinal obstruction. Operation showed a left-sided obturator hernia. In any elderly, debilitated, chronically ill woman, symptoms and signs of recurrent small-bowel obstruction (without a history of abdominal surgery or external hernias) and pain along the ipsilateral thigh and knee (Howship-Romberg sign) should raise suspicion for an obturator hernia. If the hernia is not palpable by physical examination, a CT scan of the pelvis and upper aspect of the thigh would confirm the diagnosis before operation and allow prompt treatment and better chance of patient survival.