Management of pain following thoracotomy is an important issue for the control of early morbidity. We herein present the case of a patient who was referred to our hospital after a fall from a height. Right-sided multiple rib fractures, hemopneumothorax, and diaphragmatic rupture were detected. Thoracic epidural catheterization was performed for pain management just before thoracotomy. The patient developed unilateral anhidrosis postoperatively. We discuss this rare complication of thoracic epidural analgesia with a review of relevant literature.
GulbaharGKocerBMuratliSN. A comparison of epidural and paravertebral catheterization techniques in post-thoracotomy pain management. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg2010; 37: 467–472.
4.
PöppingDMEliaNMarretERemyCTramèrMR. Protective effects of epidural analgesia on pulmonary complications after abdominal and thoracic surgery: a meta-analysis. Arch Surg2008; 143: 990–999.
5.
ImbelloniLEGouveiaMA. Low Incidence of neurologic complications during thoracic epidurals: anatomic explanation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol2010; 31: E84–E84.
6.
FreiseHVan AkenHK. Risks and benefits of thoracic epidural anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth2011; 107: 859–868.
7.
LiuMKimPSChenCKSmytheWR. Delayed Horner’s syndrome as a complication of continuous thoracic epidural analgesia. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth1998; 12: 195–196.
8.
AronsonLAParkerGCValleyRNorfleetEA. Acute Horner syndrome due to thoracic epidural analgesia in a paediatric patient. Paediatr Anaesth2000; 10: 89–91.
