Persistent neurological deficits after intrathecal administration of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine: A case report

ABSTRACT

Persistent neurologic injury is a rare but feared complication of neuroaxial anesthesia. Local anesthetics are believed to be an important cause. A 68-year-old man with an ASA physical status of 2 was scheduled to undergo elective knee arthroplasty. He had no clinical evidence of neurological deficits before the operation. Spinal anesthesia was administered using 10 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine and 20microgram of fentanyl without difficulty or complications during the procedure. On the second postoperative day, the patient complained of bilateral weakness in his lower extremities.