One patient died of cerebral hypoxia due to an initially undetected subdural catheter placement complicated by severe pre-existent carotid stenosis. In four patients, the epidural analgesia had to be stopped because of catheter migration. There was no clinical evidence of hematoma, abscess or permanent neurological damage. Epidural analgesia works well in terms of analgesia, mobilization and patient satisfaction, bearing in mind the potential side effects and complications. It can be recommended for lumbotomy and long transperitoneal operations however not for extraperitoneal interventions in the lower abdomen such as radical prostatectomy.
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