NCT01764932

Accuracy of the Thoracic Epidural Catheter Insertion Confirmed by Fluoroscopic Imaging

Determining the Accuracy of Thoracic Epidural Continuous Catheter Insertion With Confirmatory Fluoroscopic Imaging

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: Chicago Anesthesia Pain Specialists · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

In patients scheduled for thoracic surgery or upper abdominal surgery, investigators will determine the accuracy of the epidural catheter placement by using fluoroscopic imaging. Previous studies have drawn contradictory conclusions based the potential flaw assumption of 100% success rate for correct epidural catheter placement in the thoracic region.

Detailed description

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is a key tool in management of pain after thoracic or upper abdominal surgery. TEA optimizes pain relief while minimizing the use of systemic opioids, thus reducing the duration of postoperative ileus. TEA also attenuates surgical stress response and allows for early mobilization. Despite all the touted benefits of TEA, much controversy limits its use for post surgical pain due to fear of exceedingly rare, if not entirely theoretical complication of epidural hematoma. Beneficial effects of TEA require that catheter placement and infusate be targeted at the thoracic segments innervating injured skin, muscle, and bone from which pain input originates. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of thoracic epidural continuous catheter insertion by using fluoroscopic imaging.

Conditions

• Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery
• Patients Undergoing Upper Abdominal Surgery

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Fluoroscopic imaging	Contrast media (5 mL) will be injected through the catheter and fluoroscopic images will be obtained and saved in the lateral and antero-posterior projections.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-12-01
• Primary completion: 2018-11-01
• Completion: 2018-12-01
• First posted: 2013-01-10
• Last updated: 2017-09-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States