Application of echogenic technology for catheters used in ultrasound-guided continuous peripheral nerve blocks.
Limited data exist regarding the echogenicity of perineural catheters, but visualization is crucial to ensure accurate placement and efficacy of the subsequent local anesthetic infusion. The objective of this study was to determine the comparative echogenicity of various regional anesthesia catheters. In an in vitro porcine-bovine model, we compared the echogenic qualities of 3 commercially available regional anesthesia catheters and 1 catheter under development to optimize echogenicity. Outcomes included visual echogenicity ranking, image quality, and scanning time, as assessed by 2 blinded investigators. The experimental catheter was found to be more echogenic than 2 of the 3 comparators.
MAS, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave, 112A, Palo Alto, CA 94304 USA. emariano@stanford.edu.
Edward R
ER
Mariano
Romy Dju Hiee
RD
Yun
T Edward
TE
Kim
Brendan
B
Carvalho
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D057785:Catheters; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
D000779:Anesthetics, Local
continuous peripheral nerve block; echogenicity; musculoskeletal ultrasound; perineural catheter; ultrasound; ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia