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Skin–epidural distance in children
Author(s) -
Bösenberg A. T.,
Gouws E.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1995.tb05859.x
Subject(s) - medicine , guideline , lumbar , body weight , surgery , confidence interval , anesthesia , bloody , pathology
Summary The skin–epidural distance was measured in 274 children to assess the usefulness of 1 mm .kg –1 as a guideline. Children aged between 2 days and 16 years, weighing between 2 and 43 kg were investigated. Lumbar epidurals were performed under general anaesthesia using a midline approach in the L 3‐4 interspace with the patient in the left lateral position. Good correlation between skin‐epidural distance and age and weight was demonstrated. No statistical difference was shown when plotting the best fit regression line: skin‐epidural distance (mm) = 0.8 weight (kg) + 3.93 (R 2 = 0.74) and its 95% confidence limits and skin‐epidural distance (mm) = weight (kg) for children between 6 months and 10 years. Poor correlation was noted below 6 months (n = 22) and over 10 years (n = 19). No dural puncture or bloody tap occurred. One mm. kg ‐1 body weight was shown to be a useful guideline for children between 6 months and 10 years of age.