Homer's Syndrome and trigeminal nerve palsy after lumbar epidural analgesia for labor and delivery

This report highlights transient Horner's syndrome and trigeminal nerve palsy following labor epidural analgesia. A 29-year-old primigravida had a lumbar epidural catheter placed for analgesia in labor. The analgesia was maintained by infusion of a dilute local anesthetic/opioid mixture and turned off after achieving complete cervical dilation. Approximately I hour after delivery she complained of heaviness in her left eyelid, and was noted to have left-sided ptosis and paresthesia within the distribution of the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the trigeminal nerve, which resolved over the next 2 hours. There were no other neurologic changes. Horner's syndrome and cranial nerve palsies can occur as a consequence of epidural analgesia for labor. (C) 2002 by Elsevier Science Inc.