The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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The Aspiration of Injected Air via an Epidural Catheter as an Indicator for Appropriate Placement of the Catheter in the Epidural Space

경막외 카테터의 적합한 위치지표로서의 주입공기의 흡인

  • Cheong, Soon Ho (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Park, Dae Sik (Gupo Sungsim Hospital) ;
  • Moon, Sung Ho (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Cho, Kwang Rae (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Lee, Sang Eun (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Kim, Young Hwan (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Lim, Se Hun (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Lee, Jeong Han (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Lee, Kun Moo (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Choe, Young Kyun (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Kim, Young Jae (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Shin, Chee Mahn (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University)
  • 정순호 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 박대식 (부산 구포성심병원 마취과) ;
  • 문성호 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 조광래 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 이상은 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 김영환 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 임세훈 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 이정한 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 이근무 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 최영균 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 김영재 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 신치만 (인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 마취통증의학교실)
  • Received : 2009.03.23
  • Accepted : 2009.04.14
  • Published : 2009.08.01
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Abstract

Background: The "gold standard" for proper epidural catheter positioning is a clinical response, as assessed by a pinprick test. Yet it may take time or it may be difficult to perform this test after epidural catheter placement in sedated or uncooperative patients or during general anesthesia. We assessed the usefulness of aspirating injected air via an epidural catheter as an indicator of correct epidural catheter placement. Methods: We surveyed 200 patients who underwent surgery under general or epidural anesthesia. A Tuohy needle was inserted into the epidural space with using the hanging drop technique. After placement of the epidural catheter, 3 ml of air was injected via the catheter, and then the volume of aspirated air was measured. Results: The mean volume of aspirated air was $2.3{\pm}0.7ml$ (75% of the injected air volume) and this ranged from 0 to 3 ml. Conclusions: Aspiration of injected air is a simple alternative method for identifying the appropriate placement of epidural catheters in the epidural space.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : 인제대학교

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