Author(s)

Genya Urimoto^*, Kenji Ito, Keiichiro Saito, Suhei Tetsu, Kai Yamazaki, Toshiyasu Suzuki

Department of Anesthesiology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara City, Japan.

Background: Epidural anesthesia continues to play a central role in postoperative analgesia. Epidural catheter breakage and fragment retention in the body is a complication related to epidural anesthesia. To reduce the risk of epidural catheter damage by epidural needles, needles with special changes to the heel of the bevel are commercially available. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of blasting and drilling treatments at the heel of the epidural needle bevel to determine which treatment is more appropriate. Methods: The epidural needles with blasting, drilling, or no treatment to the heel of the bevel were prepared. The catheter was pulled out from the tip of the epidural needle, folded back 180˚, and then pulled up at a speed of 400 mm/min until it was fractured. The force needed to break the catheter (FB) was measured. Subsequently, low-density polyethylene (0.05 mm) was vertically penetrated with the needles at a speed of 200 mm/min, and the maximum force at penetration (FP) was measured. Results: The FB values for the blasted, drilled, and control needles were 21.3, 12.23, and 6.27 N, respectively (p < 0.01). The FP values for the blasted, drilled, and control needles were 0.82, 0.69, and 0.73 N, respectively. Conclusion: Blasting treatment is the most effective approach for the prevention of catheter rupture; however, it can increase the puncture force.

Catheter Rupture, Epidural Needle, Blasting, Drilling

Urimoto, G. , Ito, K. , Saito, K. , Tetsu, S. , Yamazaki, K. and Suzuki, T. (2019) Influence of Epidural Needle Treatment at the Heel of the Bevel on Catheter Breakage. Open Journal of Anesthesiology, 9, 1-7. doi: 10.4236/ojanes.2019.91001.