Ultrasound-assisted middle thoracic epidural catheter placement utilizing the most dorsal sites of bilateral transverse process roots as anatomical landmarks: A cadaveric observational study and a clinical randomized controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
Our novel technique for thoracic epidural catheter placement resulted in expedited needling and enhanced success rates among trainees, although there was no significant difference between total procedure time when using ultrasound guidance and that when using conventional palpation.
Study context
- Population
- Adults scheduled for thoracic or abdominal surgery; epidural placement by traineesplus 4 cadavers
- Participants
- 52 adults
- Comparison
- Ultrasound vs Conventional
- Ultrasoundn = 26
- Conventionaln = 26reference
- Primary endpoint
- Total procedure time (sum of skin marking time and needling time) by trainees
Methodological detailssingle-centre, Sapporo Medical University Hospital
- Single-centre
- Sapporo Medical University Hospital
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Total procedure time
P = 0.167
Secondary outcomes
Skin marking time · significantly longer with ultrasound
P < 0.001
Needling time · significantly shorter with ultrasound
P = 0.003
Trainee failure in epidural anaesthesia
P = 0.019
- Trainee failure in epidural anaesthesia: 2/26 printed as 17.7 % in the abstract
Cadaveric dissection (4 cadavers)
- Most dorsal site of the transverse process root identifiable by ultrasound and a reliable indicator of the interlaminar space
Original publication
Ultrasound-assisted middle thoracic epidural catheter placement utilizing the most dorsal sites of bilateral transverse process roots as anatomical landmarks: A cadaveric observational study and a clinical randomized controlled trial. J Clin Anesth. Published 3 January 2025. doi:10.
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