Ultrasound Determination of Needle Depth in Epidurals in Adult Patients

Surgery Clinical Trial

Official title:

Ultrasound Determination of Needle Depth in Lumbar and Thoracic Epidurals in Adult Non-Parturient Patients

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00981916
• Other study ID #: 16451A
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: September 21, 2009
• Last updated: September 4, 2013
• Start date: September 2009
• Est. completion date: June 2010

Study information

• Verified date: September 2013
• Source: University of Chicago
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

The introduction of local anesthetics and other medications into the epidural space is a principal technique in provision of anesthesia in many procedures. Typically the anesthetist accesses the epidural space blindly using palpation and visualization of external landmarks and then uses a needle to get to the epidural space. The investigators propose a prospective study of use of ultrasound in a large heterogeneous group of surgical candidates to define the relationship between the actual needle depth (ND) to the epidural space and measured ultrasound depth (UD). Establishing correctly the depth to the epidural space via ultrasound is a component of ultrasound imaging that might improve current technique, and might lead to faster performance of the epidural. Use of ultrasound may also improve the efficacy and safety of epidural placement.

The null hypothesis of this study is that ultrasound depth is similar to the needle depth in adult non parturient patients undergoing lumbar and thoracic epidurals. A parturient in this case is defined as a female currently near or going through labor.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 42
• Est. completion date: June 2010
• Est. primary completion date: June 2010
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• The patient population will include all non parturients above the age of 18 who are candidates for epidural placement prior to surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Parturients, prisoners and patients younger than 18 years old will be excluded from this study.

Study Design

Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Analgesia, Epidural
• Surgery

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Chicago	Chicago	Illinois

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Chicago

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Ultrasound depth	Depth to epidural space as determined by ultrasound probe	At time of exam	No