EXTRADURAL ANESTHESIA FOR REPEATED SURGICAL-TREATMENT IN THE PRESENCEOF INFECTION

The use of extradural catheters in patients with systemic or localized infection is controversial. The catheter may act as a focus for secon dary infection resulting in an extradural abscess. In this study we ha ve examined the use of extradural catheters for anaesthesia over the p ast 7 yr in patients with localized infections. The records of 69 pati ents were reviewed and patients interviewed (letter/phone). These pati ents had a total of 120 extradural catheters placed and received, on a verage, four anaesthetics, with the extradural catheter remaining in p lace for a mean of 9 days. On 12 occasions (eight patients) the cathet er was removed because of signs or symptoms of local infection. Specif ic antibiotic therapy was not initiated, but ongoing therapy was conti nued. A single case of spondylitis was the only serious complication f ound but was not related to the extradural technique. We con elude tha t extradural anaesthesia for patients who require repeated surgical tr eatments for abscesses or infected wound is a relatively safe procedur e.