Spinal epidural hematoma following epidural catheter removal during antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol.

A 90-year-old man underwent emergency thrombectomy for acute occlusion of the right femoral and popliteal arteries. After an epidural catheter (used for intraoperative/postoperative management) was removed, a spinal epidural hematoma involving the Th12 to L3 areas developed. Emergency removal of the hematoma and decompression of the spinal cord were performed. Possibly, the hematoma had developed due to therapy with an antiplatelet agent, cilostazol, which had been started on the first postoperative day, and due to the removal of the catheter, on the third postoperative day, in addition to the patient's advanced age. This case may be the first report of spinal epidural hematoma associated with both cilostazol and epidural anesthesia. From the time course in this patient, important knowledge of drug actions and follow-up may be gained for determining the timing of catheter removal in a patient receiving antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol.