ACCIDENTAL PLEURAL PUNCTURE BY A THORACIC EPIDURAL CATHETER

We report the occurrence of an accidental pleural puncture by an epidu ral catheter that happened during the attempted induction of thoracic epidural anaesthesia using a paramedian approach in an awake patient. The incorrect placement of the catheter was recognised while the patie nt was undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. The possibility of accidental pleural puncture during attempted thoracic epidural catheter placemen t by either the paramedian or the midline approach should be borne in mind. A misplaced catheter may injure lung tissue and result in a pote ntially dangerous intra-operative tension pneumothorax.