NCT04983511

Electrical Epidural Stimulation Test for Detecting Epidural Catheter Reactivation in Obstetric Population

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Stanford University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Following labor, epidural or combined spinal-epidural (CSE) catheters are kept in place and deactivated. However, many women opt for procedures such as tubal ligation, which may require epidural anesthesia as a method of pain relief. Our study aims to confirm the ability to predict reactivation of epidural catheter in postpartum females through the electrical epidural stimulation test (EST) which was first described by the PI of this study approximately 20 years ago.

Detailed description

In this study, investigators hope to investigate the ability of the electrical epidural stimulation test (EST) to predict reactivation of epidural catheter in postpartum females. The standard practice for confirming the reactivation of epidural or CSE catheters requires methods such as dosing the local anesthetic. With the EST test this will allow for the anesthesiologist to determine whether or not the epidural can be activated immediately.

Conditions

• Obstetric Pain
• Anesthesia, Local

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Electrical Epidural Stimulation Test (EST)	EST measures sensory/motor responses

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-11-01
• Primary completion: 2026-12-01
• Completion: 2026-12-01
• First posted: 2021-07-30
• Last updated: 2025-05-01