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Epidural Catheter Placement Techniques by Anesthesia Residents: Success and Complications (EPİ-TECH)

1 de maio de 2026 atualizado por: dilara gocmen, Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital

Anesthesia Residents' Epidural Catheter Placement Techniques: A Prospective Observational Study on Success Rates and Complications

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the impact of epidural catheter placement techniques - loss of resistance (LOR) and hanging drop (HD) - on first-attempt success rates and procedural complications among anesthesia residents. Residents with at least two years of training will perform epidural catheterization under supervision for patients scheduled for elective surgery requiring perioperative epidural analgesia. An independent observer will record procedural details, complications, and postoperative pain scores. The study will enroll 440 patients aged 18-80 with ASA I-III classification.

Visão geral do estudo

Descrição detalhada

Epidural catheterization is a cornerstone technique in perioperative and obstetric pain management. Two established methods are commonly used to identify the epidural space: the loss of resistance (LOR) technique, using air or normal saline, and the hanging drop (HD) technique. Although both are widely employed, comparative data on their performance by residents in training are limited. This study prospectively observes which technique the resident chooses, records procedural parameters (depth of epidural space, number of attempts, level of insertion), and documents immediate complications (dural puncture, intravascular placement, paresthesia, hypotension) and postoperative outcomes (NRS scores at 0, 6, 12, and 24 hours; PDPH). Cases in which a resident is unable to complete the procedure are documented separately, including the reason for failure and subsequent management by a supervising specialist. All procedures are performed using an 18G Tuohy needle and standard catheter set. A test dose is administered to all patients following catheter placement. Data are recorded by an independent observer using a standardized data collection form.

Tipo de estudo

Observacional

Inscrição (Estimado)

440

Contactos e Locais

Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.

Contato de estudo

Locais de estudo

    • Maltepe
      • Istanbul, Maltepe, Turquia (Türkiye), 34852
        • Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital
        • Contato:

Critérios de participação

Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.

Critérios de elegibilidade

Idades elegíveis para estudo

  • Adulto
  • Adulto mais velho

Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis

Não

Método de amostragem

Amostra de Probabilidade

População do estudo

Adult patients scheduled for elective/emergency surgery with planned perioperative epidural analgesia or anesthesia at Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation.

Descrição

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-80 years
  • ASA physical status I, II, or III
  • Scheduled for elective surgery requiring perioperative epidural analgesia or anesthesia (lumbar or thoracic approach)
  • Epidural catheter to be placed by a resident with ≥ 2 years of anesthesia training

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Spinal deformity (scoliosis, kyphosis, or prior spinal surgery at the target level)
  • Coagulopathy or anticoagulant therapy precluding neuraxial blockade
  • Active infection at the insertion site or systemic infection
  • Pre-existing neurological disease affecting the spinal cord or nerve roots
  • Emergency surgery
  • History of prior failed epidural catheterization
  • Patient refusal or inability to provide written informed consent
  • Local anatomical pathology precluding safe epidural access

Plano de estudo

Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.

Como o estudo é projetado?

Detalhes do projeto

Coortes e Intervenções

Grupo / Coorte
Intervenção / Tratamento
Loss of Resistance (LOR) Group
Patients in whom the epidural space is identified using the loss of resistance technique. The attending resident uses a syringe filled with air or normal saline attached to the Tuohy needle hub and advances until resistance disappears upon entering the epidural space.
Epidural catheterization performed using an 18G Tuohy needle and standard catheter set by anesthesia residents with a minimum of two years of training, under specialist supervision. Technique selection (LOR or HD) is at the discretion of the performing resident and is not randomized.
Outros nomes:
  • neuroaxial blockade
Hanging Drop (HD) Group
Patients in whom the epidural space is identified using the hanging drop technique. A drop of normal saline is placed at the Tuohy needle hub and observed to be aspirated inward by the negative epidural pressure as the needle tip traverses the ligamentum flavum.
Epidural catheterization performed using an 18G Tuohy needle and standard catheter set by anesthesia residents with a minimum of two years of training, under specialist supervision. Technique selection (LOR or HD) is at the discretion of the performing resident and is not randomized.
Outros nomes:
  • neuroaxial blockade

O que o estudo está medindo?

Medidas de resultados primários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
First-attempt success rate
Prazo: Time Frame: Immediately upon procedure completion
Defined as successful epidural space identification and catheter placement in a single Tuohy needle insertion attempt, without redirecting the needle.
Time Frame: Immediately upon procedure completion

Medidas de resultados secundários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Dural puncture rate
Prazo: Intraoperative
Inadvertent dural puncture defined as free flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the Tuohy needle or epidural catheter, confirmed by visual inspection. Recorded as yes/no by the independent observer at the time of the procedure
Intraoperative
Catheter Advancement Failure Rate
Prazo: intraoperative
Inability to thread the epidural catheter beyond 3 cm into the epidural space despite confirmed needle placement, necessitating needle repositioning or procedure abandonment. Recorded as yes/no by the independent observer.
intraoperative
Operator-Assessed Difficulty Score
Prazo: Immediately after procedure completion
The performing resident rates the overall technical difficulty of the procedure immediately upon completion using a 5-point Likert scale: 1 = very easy, 2 = easy, 3 = moderate, 4 = difficult, 5 = very difficult. Recorded on the standardized data collection form
Immediately after procedure completion
Intravascular catheter placement rate
Prazo: intraoperative
Unintentional intravascular placement defined as aspiration of blood through the epidural catheter prior to test dose administration. Recorded as yes/no by the independent observer immediately following catheter advancement
intraoperative
Postoperative Pain Scores
Prazo: 0, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively
Pain intensity assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain. Recorded at four time points: immediately upon arrival to the recovery unit (0 hours), and at 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively by the independent observer.
0, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively
Rate and Type of Assistance Required During Catheter Placement
Prazo: Intraoperative
The level of assistance received by the performing resident is recorded in three categories: (1) No assistance - procedure completed independently; (2) Verbal guidance only - supervising specialist provides verbal instructions without physical intervention; (3) Physical assistance - supervising specialist takes over needle or catheter manipulation partially or completely. Recorded by the independent observer at the time of the procedure.
Intraoperative
First-Attempt Success Rate Stratified by Resident Seniority Level
Prazo: Intraoperative
First-attempt success rates are compared across three seniority strata defined by duration of anesthesia training: junior residents (2-3 years), intermediate residents (3-4 years), and senior residents (4 years and above). Seniority is determined by the total duration of anesthesia specialty training at the time of the procedure.
Intraoperative

Colaboradores e Investigadores

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Publicações e links úteis

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Publicações Gerais

  • 1. Hoffmann VL, Vercauteren MP, Vreugde JP, Hans GH, Coppejans HC, Adriaensen HA. Posterior epidural space depth: safety of the loss of resistance and hanging drop techniques. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 1999;83(5):807-811. 2. Günaydın B, Tan A, Doğru O, Mutlu M, Öztürk G, Güler HG. Comparison of spring-loaded, loss of resistance and hanging drop techniques in lumbar epidural blocks. Agri. 2012;24(1):13-18. 3. Azizov S, Okcu M, Goksu H. Could the Hanging Drop Technique Be an Alternative Method to Loss of Resistance in Cervical Epidural Injections? Pain Physician. 2025;28:217-221. 4. Tran DQH, González AP, Bernucci F, Finlayson RJ. Confirmation of Loss-of-Resistance for Epidural Analgesia. Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. 2015;40(2):166-173. 5. Yoshida K, Tanaka S, Watanabe K. Hanging-Drop Technique Is More Suitable for Epidural Space Confirmation in Patients With Subcutaneous Emphysema After Traumatic Multiple Rib Fractures. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2023;37(12). 6. Konrad C, Schüpfer G, Wietlisbach M, Gerber H. Learning manual skills in anesthesiology: Is there a recommended number of cases for anesthetic procedures? Anesthesia & Analgesia. 1998;86(3):635-639. 7. De Oliveira GS, Glassenberg R, Chang R, Fitzgerald P, McCarthy R. Virtual airway simulation to improve dexterity among novices performing fibreoptic intubation. Anaesthesia. 2013;68(10):1053-1058. 8. Kopacz DJ, Neal JM, Pollock JE. The regional anesthesia learning curve. Regional Anesthesia. 1996;21(3):182-190. 9. Naik VN, Devito I, Halpern SH. Cusum analysis is a useful tool to assess resident proficiency at epidural anesthesia. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. 2004;51(7):703-708.

Datas de registro do estudo

Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados ​​pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.

Datas Principais do Estudo

Início do estudo (Estimado)

1 de maio de 2026

Conclusão Primária (Estimado)

1 de maio de 2027

Conclusão do estudo (Estimado)

1 de junho de 2027

Datas de inscrição no estudo

Enviado pela primeira vez

1 de maio de 2026

Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ

1 de maio de 2026

Primeira postagem (Real)

7 de maio de 2026

Atualizações de registro de estudo

Última Atualização Postada (Real)

7 de maio de 2026

Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade

1 de maio de 2026

Última verificação

1 de maio de 2026

Mais Informações

Termos relacionados a este estudo

Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)

Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?

NÃO

Informações sobre medicamentos e dispositivos, documentos de estudo

Estuda um medicamento regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Estuda um produto de dispositivo regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

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