Migration of pediatric epidural catheters. Issue 6 (22nd January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Strandness, Thomas; Wiktor, Marisa; Varadarajan, Jaya; Weisman, Steven; Lonnqvist, Per‐Arne
• Is Part Of: Paediatric anaesthesia. Volume 25:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 610
• Page End: 613
• Publication Date: 2015-01-22
• Subjects: Pediatric anesthesia -- Periodicals; 617.96798
• DOI: 10.1111/pan.12579
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1155-5645

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="pan12579-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="pan12579-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Postoperative pain control in the pediatric population frequently involves epidural catheters placed intraoperatively. A retrospective review of epidural catheter tip position was conducted by evaluation of routine chest anterior–posterior (A‐P) X‐rays obtained by the surgical and ICU teams.</p> </sec> <sec id="pan12579-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Of the 174 pediatric epidural catheters placed during a 1‐year period at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, 59 pediatric patients with chest X‐rays demonstrating epidural catheter tip on at least 2 days were reviewed. The change in epidural catheter position was then calculated. The overall reason for discontinuation of epidural analgesia in the larger population was also compiled.</p> </sec> <sec id="pan12579-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>It was determined that epidural catheters migrated more frequently in patients <10 kg and 10–40 kg, when compared to those >40 kg <italic>P </italic>< 0.001. The average migration seen on X‐ray was 1.1 levels inward in those <40 kg and 0.3 levels inward in those >40 kg. The incidence of catheters discontinued secondary to falling out, or migrating in, was also increased in those patients <40 kg when compared to those >40 kg.</p> </sec> <sec id="pan12579-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Results suggest that epidural catheters move inward more frequently and fall out more frequently in patients <40 kg.</p> </sec> </abstract>