• Juan Gu, Juan Ni, Yushan Ma, Yaqin Xiong, and Jin Zhou.
• Department of Anesthesiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education. 20#, Section 3 Renmin Nan Road, Chengdu, Sicuan, Chengdu, 610041, China.
• BMC Anesthesiol. 2023 Jan 17; 23 (1): 2828.

BackgroundThe present study aimed to evaluate whether the operating table height affected the success rate and incidences of complications of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia administered by residents during training.MethodsOne-hundred-and-eighty patients were randomly allocated according to landmarks on the resident's body: umbilicus (group U), lowest rib margin (R), and xiphoid process (X). The success rates of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, and the incidences of paresthesia and vessel trauma were recorded.ResultsThere were no differences between the three groups in the success rates of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, and the incidences of paresthesia and vessel trauma. However, paresthesia during epidural catheter advancement was more common on the left side (66.7%) than the right side (33.3%) (P = 0.03). In group R, the success rate of epidural anesthesia was higher during the residents' third time (100%) than their first time (50%; P = 0.01). Most residents (83%) preferred the table height at which the needle insertion point was at the level of their lowest rib margin.ConclusionsNeither the success nor the complication of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia in lateral decubitus position during residents' training affected by the operating table height. However, paresthesia was more likely to occur on the left side when a stiff catheter was inserted into the epidural space. It may be better to keep the table height at residents' lowest rib margin. It was not just preferred by most of residents but also better for their training of performing epidural anesthesia.Trial RegistrationThe trial was registered prior to patient enrollment at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (NCT: ChiCTR1800016078, Principal investigator: Juan Gu, Date of registration: 9 May 2018). Registry URL http://www.chictr.org.cn.© 2023. The Author(s).

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