Fiyyaz Akhter Qureshi, Muhammad Irfan Butt, Rafiur Rehman, Qadir Ullah, Muhammad Arif.
Evaluation of complications with blind interlaminar epidural steroid injections.
J Med Sci Jan ;21(1):31-4.

Objective: To assess the complications rate of blind interlaminar epidural steroid injections. Material and Methods: A prospective, non randomized observational study was carried out at Interventional pain clinic Anesthesia department, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar from July 2009 to November 2012 and included 386 Procedures ( Lumbar 361, Cervical 20 and caudal 05). All the interventions were performed as an outpatient procedure by one of the two pain physicians. Measurable outcomes employed were flushing, headache, intravascular entry of the needle, local bleeding, bruising, Dural puncture, nerve root irritation, infection, post procedure soreness and increased pain. The complications encountered during and after the procedure were prospectively evaluated. Results: Syncope (3.1%), flushing (2.3%), Headache (1.8%), intravascular entry (0.8%), Dural puncture (0.78%), post dural puncture headache (0.5%) and cardiac arrest (0.3%) were observed. The patient was immediately resuscitated and discharged without any morbidity. Conclusion: Blind interlaminar epidural steroid injections are safe when performed with proper technique, Monitoring and under recommended sterile precautions. The minor complications are common with this procedure but major complications are rare.

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