[Subcutaneous abscess following long time continuous epidural anaesthesia (author's transl)].

Inflammation around the puncture canal following continuous epidural anaesthesia of short duration are observed extremely rarely. To avoid the risk of infection the catheter is kept in the epidural space for not more than 24 to 48 h in the majority of cases. We had to keep an epidural catheter in place for 20 days in a 39 year old patient in the final stage of an operated and irradiated cervical carcinoma. After this time, a subcutaneous abscess of cherry size had developed. Indications and contraindications are discussed on the basis of this case report.