Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[A comparison of 7 types of epidural catheters].
The stiffness on bending of 7 types of epidural catheters was measured with the help of a cantilever beam. 1415 patients scheduled for lithotripsy, requiring epidural anesthesia, were selected and randomly assigned to receive one of the catheters. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the resistance to insertion. The incidence of intravenous insertion, subarachnoid location and paresthesia during catheter insertion were assessed. ⋯ When the catheter was hard or pushed against the resistance to insertion, the incidence of paresthesia increased. When the catheter was hard and pushed against the resistance to insertion, transforaminal escape increased. A soft catheter should be chosen to minimize the incidence of paresthesia or transforaminal escape.