Epidural Space Depth
Conditions
Brief summary
Most women delivering by cesarean at BC Women's receive regional anesthesia; which includes spinal, epidural, or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. In all these techniques a needle is placed in the lower back and local anesthetic is injected to freeze the body. Normally, before the needle is placed in a patients' back, the anesthesiologist will feel between their back bones with his/her fingers to find the right spot for the needle. This study will be evaluating if the distance from the skin to the appropriate spinal space measured with a novel 3D Ultrasound will equal the actual depth of the needle insertion.
Detailed description
The investigators will be evaluating if the distance from the skin to the appropriate spinal space measured with a novel 3D Ultrasound will equal the actual depth of the needle insertion.
Interventions
DEVICEUltrasound
Parturients backs will be scanned using 3D ultrasound to measure the depth to the epidural space
Sponsors
University of British Columbia
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* term pregnancy * elective cesarean
Exclusion criteria
* scoliosis * high bmi
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| epidural space depth | intraoperative | comparison of ultrasound measured epidural space to actual needle insertion |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed