Evaluating the depth of the epidural space with the use of ultrasound

Abstracts

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso do ultrassom na determinação da profundidade do espaço peridural. MÉTODO: Sessenta pacientes foram alocados prospectivamente tendo a identificação do espaço intervertebral L3-L4 inicialmente feita pelo método palpatório. Posteriormente, utilizou-se o método ultrassonográfico, realizando-se a medida da profundidade do espaço peridural (PU). Após a punção peridural, foram anotadas as medidas da profundidade (PA). Realizaram-se estatísticas descritivas dos dados e calculou-se o coeficiente de correlação de concordância e análise de Bland-Altman, com intervalo de 95% de confiança para as medidas de profundidade. RESULTADOS: A análise de concordância entre o método palpatório e ultrassonográfico foi de 86,6%. Foram obtidos valores médios de PU 4,97 ± 0,51 cm e PA 4,97 ± 0,71 cm e coeficiente de correlação de Pearson de 0,66, enquanto a análise Bland-Altman revelou diferença média de 0,0035 ± 0,53 cm, com limite de 95% de confiança entre -0,228 a 0,221. CONCLUSÕES: A ultrassonografia é uma ferramenta precisa para a determinação da profundidade do espaço peridural.

EQUIPAMENTOS, Ultrassom; METODOLOGIA; TÉCNICAS ANESTÉSICAS, Regional

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el uso del ultrasonido para la determinación de la profundidad del espacio epidural. MÉTODO: Sesenta pacientes fueron ubicados, prospectivamente teniendo la identificación del espacio intervertebral L3-L4 inicialmente realizada por el método de palpación. Posteriormente se usó el método de ultrasonido, y se realizó la medida de la profundidad del espacio epidural (PU). Después de la punción epidural, se anotaron las medidas de la profundidad (PA). Se midieron las estadísticas descriptivas de los datos y se calculó el coeficiente de correlación de concordancia y análisis de Bland-Altman, con un intervalo de un 95% de confianza para las medidas de profundidad. RESULTADOS: El análisis de concordancia entre el método de palpación y el ultrasonido fue de un 86,6%. Se obtuvieron valores promedios de PU 4,97 ± 0,51 cm y PA 4,97 ± 0,71 cm y un coeficiente de correlación de Pearson de 0,66, mientras el análisis Bland-Altman arrojó una diferencia promedio de 0,0035 ± 0,53 cm, con un límite de un 95% de confianza entre -0,228 a 0,221. CONCLUSIONES: El ultrasonido es un instrumento preciso para la determinación de la profundidad del espacio epidural.

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE

Evaluating the depth of the epidural space with the use of ultrasound

Pablo Escovedo Helayel, TSA^I; Diogo Bruggemann da Conceição, TSA^II; Gustavo Meurer^III; Claudia Swarovsky^III; Getúlio Rodrigues de Oliveira Filho, TSA^IV

^IAnesthesiologist; Coordinator and Researcher of NEPAR, and Instructor Co-responsible for CET/SBA aggregated of SES-SC

^IIAnesthesiologist; Researcher of NEPAR and Instructor Co-responsible for CET/SBA aggregated of SES-SC

^IIIAnesthesiology Resident

^IVAnesthesiologist; PhD in Anesthesiology; Researcher of NEPAR and Responsible for CET/SBA aggregated of SES-SC

Correspondence to

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the use of the ultrasound on the determination of the depth of the epidural space.

METHODS: Sixty patients were included in this prospective study; the L3-L4 space was initially identified by palpation followed by the ultrasound measuring the depth of the epidural space (PU). After the epidural puncture the measurements o the depth (PA) were recorded. The data underwent descriptive statistics, and the concordance correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis, with 95% confidence interval were calculated.

RESULTS: Analysis of concordance between the palpation and ultrasound methods was 86.6%. Mean values of PU obtained were 4.97 ± 0.51 cm and PA 4.97 ± 0.71 cm, and Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.66 while Bland-Altman analysis revealed a mean difference of 0.0035 ± 0.53 cm with 95% confidence interval between -0.228 and 0.221.

CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasound is a precise tool to determine the depth of the epidural space.

Keywords: ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUES, Regional: epidural; EQUIPMENT, Ultrasound; METHODOLOGY: validation studies.

INTRODUCTION

The high variability of the distance between the skin and the epidural space and its surface anatomical references hinder its correct identification ^1,2 demanding care when positioning the patient and technical experience that could affect the success rate of epidural blocks ^3-6. The depth of the epidural space depends on the trajectory of the needle. Several attempts to relate this depth with patient-related parameters, such as weight and height, proved ineffective for clinical use ⁷. From 1980 on, a strong correlation between the depth of the epidural space visualized on ultrasound and the distance measured by the needle was observed ^8,9. Thus, the ultrasound has been considered a useful tool to identify the depth of the epidural space and its anatomical structures ^10,11.

The objective of the present study was to validate the use of the ultrasound as a tool to determine the depth of the epidural space as well as to evaluate its precision on identifying the L₃-L₄ intervertebral space.

METHODS

After approval by the Ethics on Research Committee of the Hospital Governador Celso Ramos and signing of the informed consent, 60 patients, physical status ASA I and II, ages between 18 and 65 years, scheduled for elective surgeries under epidural block in the field of general, urologic, vascular, and orthopedic surgeries were enrolled in this study. Patients with neurological diseases, history of spinal surgery, deformities of the spine, infection at the puncture site, coagulopathies, and any other contraindication to neuroaxis block were exclude from this study. The physical status (ASA), age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) of all patients were recorded.

All patients were monitored with cardioscope, pulse oximeter, and non-invasive blood pressure. A line was inserted with an 18G catheter for administration of midazolam IV (0.05 mg.kg^-1) 10 minutes before the blockade.

Patients were placed in the sitting position and the L3-L4 space was identified by palpation based on the Tuffier line (horizontal line between the iliac crests) and marked with a pen. This was followed by the ultrasound using a convex transducer of 2-5 MHz (Sonoace 8000SE^®, Medison, South Korea). Initially the intervertebral space determined by palpation was confirmed with the transducer on the longitudinal position identifying the sacrum when it was slowly moved to the cephalad direction until the L4-L4 space. Once the intervertebral space was identified, the transducer was moved 90º to obtain the transverse position, and, inclining slightly on the cephalad or caudal direction to obtain a better image of the intervertebral space, which was frozen for the measurement of the depth of the epidural space (Figure 1). With the transducer on the same position the skin was marked with a pen on the center of the horizontal surface of the transducer (middle line), and another coinciding with the meddle point of the right lateral surface of the transducer ¹¹, the inclination angle in relation to the inferior apophysis was measured with the help of a protractor (Figure 2). The puncture site was determined by the intersection of both marks; the angle provided the inclination of the needle in relation to the skin. The epidural block was performed maintaining the patient on the same position after antisepsis, placement of sterile surgical fields, and local anesthesia of the skin and deeper planes with 5 ml of 1% lidocaine. A 17G Tuohy needle (8.89 cm) marked at 1-cm intervals was inserted in a point and angulation determined previously, and it was redirected if necessary. The number of repositions (change in angle) and puncture attempts (different puncture area) were recorded. After identification of the epidural space by the loss of resistance technique with saline, the angulation of the needle in relation to the skin was determined by a sterile protractor (Figure 3) and the needle was marked close to the skin with a pen to measure the depth.

After collection of the data, the ultrasound images of the intervertebral spaces were stored for posterior evaluation by two investigators regarding the quality of the images of the following structures: spinous, transverse, and articular apophysis, posterior border of the vertebral body, and yellow ligament and dura-mater (visualized as a single line) similar to the description of other studies ¹¹. An independent evaluation was performed and the degree of concordance was determined.

Calculation of the sample size was based on the following parameters, according to previous findings ³: distance from the skin to the epidural space = 50.9 ± 12 mm, and depth of the epidural space = 6.9 mm. This was considered the maximal accepted difference between the two measurements of this study. Thus, it was estimated that 60 patients would be necessary with a type I probability error of 5%, and type II probability error of 10%. Descriptive analysis of the data was undertaken using means and standard deviations, for continuous parameters, and percentages for nominal parameters. The Spearmen correlation coefficient was calculated to estimate the degree of concordance between both methods of evaluation, ultrasound depth of the epidural space (PU) versus the depth of the needle introduced until the epidural space (PA), and ultrasound angulation in relation to the skin (AU) versus the angle of the needle in relation to the skin (AA). Concordance of both methods of measuring the depth of the epidural space was estimated by the Bland-Altman method ₁₂. The remaining data related to patient characteristics were submitted to multiple linear regression in order to evaluate the possible significant association with the differences of depth and angulation.

RESULTS

Sixty patients with mean age of 45 ± 14 years, of which 41 (68%) were males, participated in this study. They had a mean height of 167 ± 8 cm; mean weight of 71 ± 12 kg; and mean BMI 25 ± 4 kg.m². According to the criteria of the ASA, 29 (48%) were classified as ASA I, 27 (45%) as ASA II, and 4 (7%) as ASA III. Considering the type of procedure, 27 (45%) underwent vascular surgery, 22 (37%), urologic surgery, 7 (12%), general surgery, and 4 (6%), orthopedic surgery.

Mean PU values were 4.97 ± 0.51 cm, and PA 4.97 ± 0.71 cm, with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.66, while Bland-Altman analysis revealed a mean difference of 0.0035 ± 0.11 cm, with 95% confidence limits between -0.228 and 0.221 (Chart 1). Mean AU values were 84.45 ± 5.14º and AA 80.68 ± 7.39º, with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.41, while Bland-Altman analysis revealed a mean difference of 3.76 ± 1.15º, with a 95% confidence limit between 1.47 and 6.05. Repositioning of the needle did not show a correlation with the difference observed in the angles (Spearman coefficient of 0.043 and p = 0.74). On multiple linear regression analysis, only the weight showed a significant association with the difference between measurements (R coefficient = 0.3 and p = 0.019). However, only 9.1% variance in the differences among measurements was explained by weight variation, since the adjusted determination coefficient (R²) was 0.091. Analysis of the concordance between the palpation and ultrasound methods on the identification of the L₃-L₄ space was 86.6%. In all cases, only one puncture on the skin at the point determined previously was necessary, and, in 34 (55%), redirection of the needle was not necessary. On the remaining cases, 1 (14.5%) to 5 (3.2%) changes in the angle of insertion of the needle were necessary.

DISCUSSION

This study showed a high correlation between the measurements of the distance between the skin and the epidural space by palpation and ultrasound. Similarly to other studies, the findings of the present study revealed that ultrasound is capable of generating a fairly precise estimate of the depth of the epidural space ^8,9.

As observed previously ^3,13, the depth of the epidural space had a close relationship with the weight and BMI of patients. The values of those variables observed in this study were comparable to those observed in previous studies^3,4,9 done in patients with equally lower body mass index. The concordance between PU and PA was not affected by the BMI, which has also been demonstrated ^11,13,14. Besides estimating the depth the ultrasound can facilitate the epidural puncture before it is performed by evaluating the anatomy of the spine and providing greater accuracy on the identification of the site of puncture on the skin ^7,15,16. Only one attempt was necessary in all patients, and in 55% of the cases it was not necessary to redirect the needle. This indicates that the ultrasound can help define the best place of entry on the skin and the ideal direction of the needle. The usefulness of measuring the angle between the transducer and the skin to make the relationship PU/PA more precise and reduce the need of repositioning the needle did not show a good correlation with the difference observed among angles. Thus, the measurement of those angles does not seem to facilitate epidural punctures, it only increases the time of the ultrasound.

Identification of the L₃-L₄ space by palpation showed a high correlation with the ultrasound (86.6%). Those levels of accuracy are much higher than those observed by other authors ², who reported accuracy lower than 30%. Although this result shows a better identification of the L₃-L₄ space, it does not guarantee the correct position of the needle in the desired intervertebral space by palpation.

To conclude, the ultrasound is a precise tool to determine the depth of the epidural space. Besides, it facilitates epidural puncture by the correct identification of the intervertebral space and spinal anatomy; however, it does not exclude the need to use the loss of resistance technique.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  23 Aug 2010
• Date of issue
  Aug 2010

History

• Accepted
  01 Mar 2010
• Received
  08 Jan 2010