Epidural Procedures under Fluoroscopy and X-ray Study of Epidural Catheters

• Published in: THE JOURNAL OF JAPAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL ANESTHESIA Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 202 - 208
• Main Author: SHIMA, Takeshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL ANESTHESIA 2011
• Subjects: Abnormally placed epidural catheters; Epidural anesthesia; Epidural procedures under fluoroscopy; Roentgenogram of epidural catheter
• ISSN: 0285-4945; 1349-9149
• DOI: 10.2199/jjsca.31.202

Epidural procedures under fluoroscopy can be performed safely and accurately, and allow a direct view of needle puncture sites. Therefore, these procedures are recommended for epidural catheter insertion in obese patients and those with difficult or abnormal spines. Fluoroscopic machine preparation, needle insertion under fluoroscopy and epidural catheter insertion are clearly explained. First, 0.5 ml of contrast medium is injected through the epidural catheter and an antero-posterior roentgenogram is taken to observe the longitudinal spread of the contrast medium in the cephalad and caudal directions. The position of the epidural catheter tip and spread of the contrast medium can provide information about the passage of the catheter tip through an intravascular, subdural, subarachnoid or extra-epidural space.