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The effect of tunnelling on epidural catheter migration
Author(s) -
Bougher R. J.,
Corbett A. R.,
Ramage D. T. O.
Publication year - 1996
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.1365-2044.1996.tb07714.x
Subject(s) - medicine , catheter , lumbar , quantum tunnelling , surgery , anesthesia , significant difference , physics , optoelectronics
Summary A prospective, randomised study of 82 patients having postoperative epidural analgesia was performed to determine whether the tunnelling of an epidural catheter influences its migration. Tunnelling of the catheter subc utaneously for a distance of 5 cm reduced the incidence of inward migration of I cm or more (p < 0.01) compared to a standard method affixation with a transparent adhesive dressing. This effect was more marked if the epidural catheter was sited in the thoracic rather than the lumbar area. Sixty two percent (n = 26) of tunnelled catheters remained within 0.5cm of their original position compared to 38% (n = 16) of non‐tunnelled catheters, although this difference was not statistically significant. Outward catheter migration was not reduced by subcutaneous tunnelling.