Retrograde Surgical Placement of a Thoracic Epidural Catheter in a Patient Undergoing Combined Thoracic and Spinal Surgery

Vanessa B Davis,1 Mark Li,1 Flora Mian Li,1 Ryu Komatsu,2 Jiang Wu1 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; 2Multi-Specialty Anesthesiology, Integrated Hospital-Care Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USACorrespondence: Jia...

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Main Authors: Davis VB, Li M, Li FM, Komatsu R, Wu J
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:International Medical Case Reports Journal
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/retrograde-surgical-placement-of-a-thoracic-epidural-catheter-in-a-pat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IMCRJ
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author Davis VB
Li M
Li FM
Komatsu R
Wu J
author_facet Davis VB
Li M
Li FM
Komatsu R
Wu J
author_sort Davis VB
collection DOAJ
description Vanessa B Davis,1 Mark Li,1 Flora Mian Li,1 Ryu Komatsu,2 Jiang Wu1 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; 2Multi-Specialty Anesthesiology, Integrated Hospital-Care Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USACorrespondence: Jiang Wu, Email jiangwu@uw.eduAbstract: Epidural anesthetic techniques for postoperative analgesia are rarely considered in spinal surgery, and high thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is considered medically risky. We present a successful case of surgical retrograde placement of a thoracic (T6-T7) epidural catheter under direct surgical visualization via T2 laminectomy in a patient who underwent combined thoracotomy and spinal surgery. TEA was confirmed by epidurogram, provided adequate postoperative pain relief, and the patient was discharged home three days post-surgery.Keywords: thoracic epidural analgesia, retrograde, laminectomy, thoracotomy
format Article
id doaj-art-b2ceafc4a5f449f3af6effe9144df4f9
institution DOAJ
issn 1179-142X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Dove Medical Press
record_format Article
series International Medical Case Reports Journal
spelling doaj-art-b2ceafc4a5f449f3af6effe9144df4f92025-08-20T02:43:55ZengDove Medical PressInternational Medical Case Reports Journal1179-142X2025-07-01Volume 18Issue 1785790104453Retrograde Surgical Placement of a Thoracic Epidural Catheter in a Patient Undergoing Combined Thoracic and Spinal SurgeryDavis VB0Li M1Li FM2Komatsu R3Wu J4Anesthesiology & Pain MedicineAnesthesiology & Pain MedicineAnesthesiology & Pain MedicineMulti-Specialty AnesthesiologyAnesthesiology & Pain MedicineVanessa B Davis,1 Mark Li,1 Flora Mian Li,1 Ryu Komatsu,2 Jiang Wu1 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; 2Multi-Specialty Anesthesiology, Integrated Hospital-Care Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USACorrespondence: Jiang Wu, Email jiangwu@uw.eduAbstract: Epidural anesthetic techniques for postoperative analgesia are rarely considered in spinal surgery, and high thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is considered medically risky. We present a successful case of surgical retrograde placement of a thoracic (T6-T7) epidural catheter under direct surgical visualization via T2 laminectomy in a patient who underwent combined thoracotomy and spinal surgery. TEA was confirmed by epidurogram, provided adequate postoperative pain relief, and the patient was discharged home three days post-surgery.Keywords: thoracic epidural analgesia, retrograde, laminectomy, thoracotomyhttps://www.dovepress.com/retrograde-surgical-placement-of-a-thoracic-epidural-catheter-in-a-pat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IMCRJthoracic epidural analgesiaretrogradelaminectomythoracotomy
spellingShingle Davis VB
Li M
Li FM
Komatsu R
Wu J
Retrograde Surgical Placement of a Thoracic Epidural Catheter in a Patient Undergoing Combined Thoracic and Spinal Surgery
International Medical Case Reports Journal
thoracic epidural analgesia
retrograde
laminectomy
thoracotomy
title Retrograde Surgical Placement of a Thoracic Epidural Catheter in a Patient Undergoing Combined Thoracic and Spinal Surgery
title_full Retrograde Surgical Placement of a Thoracic Epidural Catheter in a Patient Undergoing Combined Thoracic and Spinal Surgery
title_fullStr Retrograde Surgical Placement of a Thoracic Epidural Catheter in a Patient Undergoing Combined Thoracic and Spinal Surgery
title_full_unstemmed Retrograde Surgical Placement of a Thoracic Epidural Catheter in a Patient Undergoing Combined Thoracic and Spinal Surgery
title_short Retrograde Surgical Placement of a Thoracic Epidural Catheter in a Patient Undergoing Combined Thoracic and Spinal Surgery
title_sort retrograde surgical placement of a thoracic epidural catheter in a patient undergoing combined thoracic and spinal surgery
topic thoracic epidural analgesia
retrograde
laminectomy
thoracotomy
url https://www.dovepress.com/retrograde-surgical-placement-of-a-thoracic-epidural-catheter-in-a-pat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IMCRJ
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AT lim retrogradesurgicalplacementofathoracicepiduralcatheterinapatientundergoingcombinedthoracicandspinalsurgery
AT lifm retrogradesurgicalplacementofathoracicepiduralcatheterinapatientundergoingcombinedthoracicandspinalsurgery
AT komatsur retrogradesurgicalplacementofathoracicepiduralcatheterinapatientundergoingcombinedthoracicandspinalsurgery
AT wuj retrogradesurgicalplacementofathoracicepiduralcatheterinapatientundergoingcombinedthoracicandspinalsurgery