[Perineal infiltration anaesthesia for episiotomy: a needle which is bent manually may break off and migrate through the body]. / Perineale infiltratieanesthesie voor een episiotomie: een met de hand voorgebogen naald kan afbreken en gaan zwerven.

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was given local anaesthesia in the perineum with a Monoject disposable needle in preparation for an episiotomy. The needle was bent manually in order to facilitate infiltration. During infiltration the needle broke off and disappeared. The delivery was uneventful. Radio diagnostic examination located the needle deep in the patient's left buttock. It was removed a week later via a small incision. Breakage of the needle was probably caused by the bending in combination with a sudden movement by the patient at the moment of infiltration. In obstetrics episiotomy is a common surgical procedure. For infiltration anaesthesia of the perineum a long, flexible, reusable Unimed needle is recommended instead of a short, inflexible, disposable Monoject needle.