Horner's syndrome following very low concentration bupivacaine infusion for labor epidural analgesia

J Clin Anesth. 2003 May;15(3):217-9. doi: 10.1016/s0952-8180(03)00017-5.

Abstract

Horner's syndrome is a complication of epidural analgesia and anesthesia, encountered more commonly in pregnant women than in other patients. Previous reports described the appearance of Horner's syndrome following epidural injection of concentrated local anesthetic solutions. We report unilateral Horner's syndrome occurring in the setting of lumbar epidural analgesia for labor with a very low local anesthetic concentration (bupivacaine 0.04%) in an epidural infusion. We discuss the possible factors that could have contributed to this occurrence despite the extremely dilute concentration of local anesthetic used for analgesia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesia, Epidural / adverse effects*
  • Analgesia, Obstetrical / adverse effects*
  • Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
  • Anesthetics, Local / adverse effects*
  • Bupivacaine / administration & dosage
  • Bupivacaine / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Horner Syndrome / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Bupivacaine