Clinical, economic and environmental evaluation of CoolStick compared to ethyl chloride to assess neuraxial sensory block level for caesarean delivery: a prospective observational study
Authors' conclusion
CoolStick offers clinical equivalency to ethyl chloride for sensory block level assessment.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing caesarean delivery under neuraxial anaesthesia
- Participants
- 50 patients
- Exposure
- CoolStick vs ethyl chloride for cold sensation testing of neuraxial sensory block level
- Outcome
- Agreement of sensory block level to cold between ethyl chloride and CoolStick (Kappa, Bland-Altman)
Methodological detailsstandardised protocol
- Standardised protocol
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Block level agreement, ethyl chloride vs CoolStick (bilateral)
Agreement ethyl chloride vs CoolStick, κ (bilateral)
0.77, 0.63
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Block level agreement with cotton wool
- CoolStick vs cotton wool, κ (poor)
- 0.086, 0.044
- Ethyl chloride vs cotton wool, κ (poor)
- 0.076, 0.035
Economic and environmental impact of routine CoolStick use (hospital with 5500 deliveries)
- Annual saving
- £9,500
- CO2 equivalent emissions prevented, first year
- 229.32 kg
- CO2 equivalent emissions prevented, each year thereafter
- 238.4 kg
Original publication
Clinical, economic and environmental evaluation of CoolStick compared to ethyl chloride to assess neuraxial sensory block level for caesarean delivery: a prospective observational study. Int J Obstet Anesth. Published 5 March 2025. doi:10.
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