title: Epidural catheter design: history, innovations, and clinical implications.
abstract: Epidural catheters have evolved during the past several decades, as clinicians and manufacturers have sought to influence the quality of analgesia and anesthesia and reduce the incidence of catheter-related complications. This evolution has allowed a transformation from single-shot to continuous-infusion techniques and resulted in easier passage into the epidural space, more extensive medication distribution, and ultimately, improved patient satisfaction. Particular catheter features, including the materials used, tip design, and orifice number and arrangement, have been associated with specific outcomes and provide direction for future development.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Anesthesiology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York (R.D.T.); and Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (L.C.T.).
authors.forename: Roulhac D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Toledano
authors.forename: Lawrence C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Tsen
mesh_terms: D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods; D000763:Anesthesia, Caudal / Q000295:instrumentation; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D002404:Catheterization; D057785:Catheters / Q000266:history*; D004867:Equipment Design; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals; D009339:Needles; D010969:Plastics
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D010969:Plastics