Effects of epinephrine in the epidural space on the incidence of blood vessel injury by epidural catheter insertion for cesarean section: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of epinephrine (1:200,000) in the epidural space on the incidence of blood vessel injury by epidural catheter insertion for cesarean section.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

University-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Four hundred laboring women with singleton cephalic presentations at term who underwent cesarean section and requested continuous epidural analgesia.

INTERVENTIONS

Predistension of 5 mL of isotonic sodium chloride solution containing epinephrine (1:200,000) or 5 mL of isotonic sodium chloride solution through an epidural needle before catheter insertion.

MEASUREMENTS

Cases with bloody fluid in the epidural needle or catheter during catheter insertion, aspiration of frank blood from the epidural catheter, and blood noted in the caudal end of the epidural catheter upon removal were recorded.

MAIN RESULTS

Eight parturients were excluded from the analysis for technical reasons. There were no significant differences between patients in the 2 groups with respect to cases with bloody fluid in the epidural needle during catheter insertion (7.6% vs 9.8%, P = .44), the epidural catheter during catheter placement (6.0% vs 6.7%, P = .80), aspiration of frank blood in the epidural catheter (1.0% vs 1.0 %, P = .98), and blood noted in the caudal end of the epidural catheter upon removal (27.3% vs 30.4 %; P > .49).

CONCLUSION

Twenty-five micrograms of epinephrine (1:200,000) in the epidural space does not reduce the incidence of blood vessel injury induced by insertion of an epidural catheter.