A rapid detection of an inadvertent subdural catheter during labor epidural insertion: A case report

An under-recognized complication of labor epidural analgesia is the inadvertently placed subdural catheter, which confers significant risk when diagnosis is delayed. We describe a case where the application of diagnostic criteria aided in the rapid detection of an inadvertently placed subdural catheter during labor epidural insertion. We review meningeal and neuraxial anatomy and provide an overview of the epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, and management of inadvertently placed subdural catheters in labor analgesia. Recognizing and promptly managing this complication during labor epidural insertion requires an awareness of the complication, and applying diagnostic criteria can facilitate early identification.