Department of Anaesthesia, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Anaesthesia. 2011 Oct;66(10):913-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2011.06820.x. Epub 2011 Aug 18.
In current practice, the length of epidural catheter that should be left in the epidural space is not standardised for effective postoperative analgesia. This prospective, randomised, double-blinded study aimed to determine the most appropriate length of epidural catheter that should be inserted into the epidural space for postoperative analgesia. We recruited 102 women and assigned them into three study groups (3, 5 and 7 cm insertion). An epidural catheter was inserted and epidurography was performed. Postoperatively, mean pain scores, motor and sensory levels, and any complications associated with the epidural catheter were recorded. No statistically significant difference for mean postoperative pain score was found at all study timings. Motor and sensory blockade was also statistically insignificant. Unilateral sensory analgesia developed in one patient in the 7 cm group and epidural catheter dislodgement was observed in four patients in the 3 cm group. In order to minimise catheter-related complications for postoperative analgesia, the most appropriate length that an epidural catheter should be left in the epidural space is 5 cm. You can respond to this article at http://www.anaesthesiacorrespondence.com.
在当前的实践中，为了实现有效的术后镇痛，硬膜外导管在硬膜外腔中的留置长度尚未标准化。本前瞻性、随机、双盲研究旨在确定用于术后镇痛的最合适的硬膜外导管插入硬膜外腔的长度。我们招募了 102 名女性，并将她们分为三组（3、5 和 7 厘米插入）。插入硬膜外导管并进行硬膜外造影。术后记录平均疼痛评分、运动和感觉水平以及与硬膜外导管相关的任何并发症。在所有研究时间点，平均术后疼痛评分均无统计学差异。运动和感觉阻滞也无统计学意义。在 7 厘米组中有 1 名患者出现单侧感觉镇痛，在 3 厘米组中有 4 名患者观察到硬膜外导管移位。为了最小化与术后镇痛相关的导管并发症，硬膜外导管在硬膜外腔中最合适的留置长度应为 5 厘米。你可以在 http://www.anaesthesiacorrespondence.com 上对此文进行回复。
