[Efficacy of ultrasound imaging of lumbar epidural anesthesia in patients for cesarean delivery: A comparative study between longitudinal and transverse plane imaging].

BACKGROUND

It has been demonstrated that preparatory ultrasound scanning can facilitate lumbar epidural anesthesia. We compared longitudinal with transverse approach of ultrasound imaging to test the precision and the quality of acquired images in cesar ean delivery patients.

METHODS

We enrolled 34 cesarean delivery patients. Measured distances from the skin to dura on each ultrasound view was compared with the actual needle depth. Additionally we measured ultrasound visibility score.

RESULTS

The both distances measured in ultrasound strongly correlated with the actual depth (R2= 0.87 and 95% limits of agreement of -3.07 to 6.45 mm on longitudinal view, R2=0.82 and 95% limits of agreement of -3.50 to 7.74 mm on longitudinal view). The visibility score of the longitudinal view was significantly higher than that of transverse view (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Both planes provided accurate information about the epidural space and depth, and the longitudinal plane was superior in the imaging quality. It was suggested that both approaches may help identify epidural spaces.