Radiologically Visible Intraspinal Air Was Very Common After Epidural Access Attempts Among Our Peripartum Patients Who Had Undergone Radiological Examinations

Abstract

Background: The incidence of intracranial air after neuraxial access attempts was recently quantified. Therefore, the incidence of intraspinal air after neuraxial access attempts needs to be quantified. Objective: To ascertain how common was radiologically visible intraspinal air per computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MR) of spine among our peripartum patients. Methods: For a seven-year period (July 1, 2015-June 30, 2022), medical records of our peripartum patients who had undergone CT/MR of spine were retrospectively reviewed to rule out the presence of recent neuraxial access attempts before their radiological examinations of spine. Concurrently, those radiological examinations of spine were reviewed to rule out the presence of radiologically visible intraspinal air. Results: Among 27 peripartum patients who had undergone CT/MR of spine during the seven-year period, 24 peripartum patients had received recent neuraxial access attempts prior to their radiological examinations wherein 25% had radiologically visible intraspinal air. However, as none of the spinal-only access patients had radiologically visible intraspinal air, intraspinal air was radiologically visible among 32% patients who had recent epidural access attempts. Conclusion: Radiologically visible intraspinal air was very common after epidural access attempts among our peripartum patients who had undergone radiological examinations.