Successful spinal anesthesia after inadequate epidural block in a parturient with prior surgical correction of scoliosis

Abstract

Background: Lumbar epidural anesthesia is safe in patients with previous spinal surgery, but it is not always successful or easily performed.

Method: The authors present the case of a parturient with Harrington rod insertion, scheduled for cesarean delivery, whose epidural anesthetic could not be extended beyond the T10 level.

Result: After letting the epidural block recede below the lumbar level, a successful spinal anesthetic was administered producing a sensory level to T4.