AI Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to compare the accuracy of epidural catheter placement at three lumbar sites (L2-3, L3-4, L4-5) in infants and children.
- Seventy-five children were divided into three groups for catheter insertion, and the correct placement was checked using a diluted contrast agent and imaging.
- Results showed that L2-3 had significantly better accuracy for catheter placement, particularly in children over 1 year, while infants performed better at lower lumbar levels due to safety concerns.
Article Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the position of the epidural catheter inserted from three different lumbar intervertebral spaces, L2-3, L3-4, and L4-5, in infants and children.
Methods: Seventy-five children were randomly allocated to 3 groups according to the epidural catheter insertion site (L2-3, L3-4, and L4-5). The epidural catheter tip was identified using 50% diluted Iohexol and fluoroscopy. The incidence of correct position was compared among the groups and between infants and children.
Results: The incidence of correct position was significantly higher in the L2-3 group as compared to the L3-4 and L4-5 groups (P = 0.023 and P = 0.046 respectively). The incidence of correct position was higher in infants compared to children (P = 0.017).
Conclusions: The L2-3 intervertebral space is preferable during epidural catheter insertion in children older than 1 year, but a low lumbar level should be considered in infants because they have a higher risk of neural damage.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2881521 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2010.58.5.458 | DOI Listing |
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