Epidural Hematoma and Abscess Related to Thoracic Epidural Analgesia: A Single-Center Study of 2,907 Patients Who Underwent Lung Surgery

Objective To report the major complications (epidural hematoma and abscess) of postoperative thoracic epidural analgesia in patients who underwent lung surgery. Design Prospective, monocentric study. Setting A university hospital. Participants All lung surgical patients who received postoperative thoracic epidural analgesia between November 2007 and November 2015. Interventions Thoracic epidural analgesia for patients who underwent lung surgery. Measurements and Main Results During the study period, data for 2,907 patients were recorded. The following 3 major complications were encountered: 1 case of epidural hematoma (0.34 case/1,000; 95% confidence interval 0.061-1.946), for which surgery was performed, and 2 cases of epidural abscesses (0.68 case/1,000; 95% confidence interval 0.189-2.505), which were treated medically. Conclusions The risk range of serious complications was moderate; only the patient who experienced an epidural hematoma also experienced permanent sequelae.