Inadvertent intrathecal injection of tramadol

• Published in: British journal of anaesthesia : BJA Vol. 91; no. 6; pp. 918 - 920
• Main Authors: Barrett, N. A., Sundaraj, S. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2003; Oxford University Press; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: analgesic opioids; analgesic opioids, tramadol; Analgesics, Opioid - adverse effects; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; cancer; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; complications; complications, cancer; complications, intrathecal catheters; Female; Humans; Hypotension - chemically induced; Injections, Spinal; intrathecal catheters; Medical sciences; Medication Errors; Middle Aged; Myoclonus - chemically induced; Palliative Care; tramadol; Tramadol - adverse effects; complications, cancer; complications, intrathecal catheters; analgesic opioids, tramadol; analgesic opioids, tramadol; complications, cancer; complications, intrathecal catheters; Human; Catheter; intrathecal catheters; Metastasis; Malignant tumor; Case study; Analgesic; Tramadol; Anesthesia; Complication; analgesic opioids; tramadol; complications; cancer; complications
• ISSN: 0007-0912; 1471-6771
• DOI: 10.1093/bja/aeg265

The present case report describes the observed sequelae following an inadvertent intrathecal injection of tramadol in a patient with metastatic malignancy. The contributing circumstances before the injection are discussed, as is the potential aetiology of the observed sequelae.