Three Cases Becoming Difficult to Remove Epidural Catheter Postoperatively Due to Coagulation Defect Associated with Antibiotics

Perioperative vitamin K deficiency can cause severe coagulopathy rapidly. Vitamin K deficiency tends to be overlooked despite the elucidation of pathophysiology and countermeasures. The main causes of vitamin K deficiency are insufficient intake, low supply from intestinal bacteria, and synthesis inhibition of vitamin K by N-methyltetrazolethiol (N - MTT) contained antibiotics. We experienced three cases in which it was difficult to remove epidural catheter because of coagulation abnormality due to vitamin K deficiency after surgery. Vitamin K deficiency should be wary of when epidural catheter is indwelled or withdrawn from a patient who is administered with antibiotic containing N-MTT in the fasted state