Continuous cervical paravertebral catheter knot

The case of a 67 year-old woman who underwent left rotator cuff repair with subacromial decompression and acromioplasty with general anesthesia and a posterior cervical paravertebral catheter for postoperative pain control is presented. The catheter was placed without apparent incident and appropriate neural block and analgesia were achieved. On attempted removal of the catheter, resistance was encountered and a knot in the catheter was identified. Imaging showed no entanglement of nerve or vascular structures. Using a small skin incision, the catheter was successfully removed.