The Radiological Location of the Catheters in Cervical Epidural Space and the Spread of Radiopaque Dye

경부 경막외강내 카테테르의 X-선상 위치 및 조영제의 확산

  • Park, Young-Joo (Neuropain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, Inje University) ;
  • Song, Chan-Woo (Neuropain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, Inje University)
  • 박영주 (인제대학교 상계백병원 마취과 신경통증치료실) ;
  • 송찬우 (인제대학교 상계백병원 마취과 신경통증치료실)
  • Published : 1996.11.23

Abstract

Continuous epidural block can be useful in the management of acute and chronic pain. For the most effective analgesia, it is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter and the spread of radiopaque dye. Epidural catheterization was performed in 12 patients on the sitting position. Catheters were advanced by 10 cm cephalad in the cervical epidural space by median approach and radiopaque dye 3 ml was injected through the catheters. The position of cervical epidural catheters and the spread of dye was confirmed by radiography. The course of epidural catheter were: coiled 3/12 (25%), loop 2/12 (16.7%), straight 2/12 (16.7%). In 8 cases, the tip of epidural catheters were located within one vertebral segment from the level of insertion site. Radiopaque dye spreaded average 3.68 vertebral segment to cranially and 1.67 vertebral segment to caudally from the insertion site.

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