Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40169958›Full record

Observational studyBMC anesthesiology2025

Ultrasonography-guided catheter-over-needle insertion for caudal epidural catheter placement in adults: technical considerations.

Pei Zhang, Hongzhou Chen, Keqiang Yu, Xia Ran, Rurong Wang, Jing Wu

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC anesthesiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Pei ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Hongzhou ChenDepartment of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Keqiang YuInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Westen Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xia RanDepartment of Anesthesiology, Chengdu Shangjin Nanfu hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Rurong WangDepartment of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China. wangrurong@scu.edu.cn.
Jing WuInstitute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Westen Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Funding

Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province 2023YFS0100
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCaudal epidural analgesia significantly reduces acute pain after anorectal surgery; however, caudal epidural catheter placement (CECP) remains challenging, and the safety of real-time ultrasonography-guided CECP is uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the success rate and related complications of real-time ultrasonography-guided CECP and describe the technical considerations.

methodsThis prospective, single-center observational study included 233 patients catheterized in the left lateral decubitus position. The sacral hiatus was palpated and then confirmed using ultrasonography. A catheter-over-needle was inserted through the sacrococcygeal ligament under real-time ultrasonographic guidance, the metallic needle was withdrawn through the outer sleeve, and the epidural catheter was placed through the outer sleeve into the sacral canal epidural space. The primary outcome was the success rate of CECP; several surgical variables, the incidence of related complications, and improvement measures were also assessed.

resultsCECP through the sacral hiatus was successful in 231 patients. The sacral canal depth at the hiatus apex, the mean distance between the sacral cornua, and the distance from the skin to the inferior margin of the sacrococcygeal ligament were 5.07 ± 1.38, 8.00 ± 1.94, and 14.24 ± 4.18 mm, respectively. The sacral canal depth was > 3 mm in 94.4% of patients. No complications, such as epidural hematoma, dura puncture, and intraspinal infection during postoperative epidural catheter utilization, occurred.

conclusionUltrasonography-guided CECP through the sacral hiatus is a simple, feasible, safe, and effective technique for postoperative anorectal analgesia. Additionally, caudal epidural analgesia manages severe pain after anorectal surgery. Therefore, this technology merits comprehensive clinical application. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: No. ChiCTR 2,000,038,918.

Indexed as

Analgesia, EpiduralAnesthesia, CaudalUltrasonography, InterventionalAdultAgedCatheterizationEpidural SpaceFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesAnorectal surgeryCatheter-over-needleCaudal blockEpidural catheterIntraspinal infectionPostoperative painSubcutaneous tunnelUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID40169958
PMCPMC11963432

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.