Complications of 761 short-term intrathecal macrocatheters in obstetric XXXX : a retrospective review of cases over a 12-year period.

@entity1 @entity16 @entity693 @entity1410 @entity2443 @entity1971 @entity10 @entity9737
BACKGROUND: A continuous spinal catheter is a reliable alternative to standard neuraxial techniques in obstetric anesthesia. Despite the potential advantages of intrathecal catheters, they remain underutilized due to fear of @entity16 or post-dural @entity9737 @entity10 . In our tertiary care center, intrathecal catheters are either placed intentionally in high-risk obstetric @entity1 or following inadvertent dural @entity9737 using a 19-gauge macrocatheter passed through a 17-gauge epidural needle. METHODS: A retrospective review of 761 intrathecal catheters placed from 2001 to 2012 was conducted. An institutional obstetric anesthesia database was used to identify @entity1 with intrathecal catheters. Medical records were reviewed for procedural details and complications. RESULTS: There were no serious complications, including @entity693 , epidural or spinal abscess, @entity1410 , @entity2443 , or @entity1971 , associated with intrathecal catheters. The failure rates were 2.8% (3/108) for intentional placements and 6.1% (40/653) for placements following accidental dural @entity9737 . The incidence of post-dural @entity9737 @entity10 was 41% (312/761) and the epidural blood patch rate was 31% (97/312). CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates that intrathecal catheters are dependable and an option for labor analgesia and surgical anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Serious long-lasting complications are rare.
