[Usefulness and radiopacity of the two radiopaque epidural catheters].

We evaluated the radiopacity and usefulness of the two radiopaque epidural catheters, one by Portex CO. Ltd., and the other Flex Tip Plus with a stainless coil by Arrow Japan Co. Ltd. The Portex catheter (Group A) or the Arrow catheter (Group B) was inserted through a single epidural space from Th7 to Th12 in 20 patients each. The two plain chest X-rays, one for the lung and the other for the catheter, were taken in all patients after surgery. We compared the two groups and examined whether the identification of the catheter was possible or not in the two kinds of X-rays, whether the catheter had gone straight or not, and whether the insertion of the catheter had been easy or difficult. The course of the catheter was identified easily in 1 case of Group A and 4 cases of Group B but was not identified at all in 10 cases of Group A and 8 cases of Group B. There were no differences between the two groups in the number of patients in whom the catheter was easily inserted, identified, or placed straight. Therefore, the usefulness of the two catheters in terms of insertion and identification of its course was not different.