troubleshooting epidurals
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Dr Keri Ashpole
Nov 2012
Epidurals for Labour: Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Epidurals
1. Standard Labour Epidural
2. Complications related to where the catheter can be
3. Inadequate Analgesia
4. Dural tap
5. Golden Rules for epidurals
Standard Labour Epidural
Get patient into Position
Epidural Insertion
Epidural Insertion
Secure WellOnly 4-6 cm of catheter left in the epidural space
What block do we need for a labour
epidural?
• First Stage of Labour:
- block to T10 for uterine
contractions
• Second Stage of Labour:
- sacral block for delivery
• Autonomic
• Sensory
• Motor
What Drugs and doses to use?• Low Dose Mix (LDM) for Labour Epidurals:
• Mobile mix
• 0.1% bupivacaine + 2mcg/ml Fentanyl
• First top up:
• 10mls + 10mls LDM test dose (anaesthetist)
• Start LDM Infusion / PCEA
• 30 min to achieve block
• Further bolus doses may be given
• Maximum strength in the room 0.25% bupivacaine?
What Drugs and doses to use?• What drug factors affect the quality of our block?
• Concentration
• Volume
• Rate and pressure of injection
• What epidural factors affect the quality of our block?
• Where the catheter is!!!
Epidural troubleshooting after
Injection : Complications - Where
is the catheter?
Why are all Epidural top up’s a test Dose?
1. Intravenous (Bloody tap)
Tips:
1.Don’t pass catheter
during a contraction
2. Inject saline as you
withdraw catheter last
few cm
Where could your epidural catheter be? 1. Intravenous - in Batson’s plexus (LA toxicity)
• S&S - depend on blood concentration
• Mx - ABC, intralipid
2. Subarachnoid - high block (total spinal)• Incidence 1 in 5000 – 50,000, more common after ‘pepper potting’
• S&S- hypotension, difficulty speaking, agitation , resp/cardiac arrest
• Mx – ABC , wedge, vasopressors, delivery
3. Subdural - high patchy block• Possibly 1 in 100?
• Slow onset block with thoracic /cervical blocks but poor lumbar block
• S&S – pain, rarely significant hypotension , Horner’s syndrome
• Mx – re-site epidural
Why are all Epidural top up’s a test Dose?
2. Subarachnoid
Note:
SA catheter migration
(Dural tap with touhey
discussed later)
Skin
Termination of
spinal cord
Dural sac
Epidural space
Ligamentum
flavum
Spinous process
Supraspinous
ligament
Intraspinous ligament
Ep
Where could your epidural catheter be?
Where could your epidural catheter be? 1. Intravenous - in Batson’s plexus (LA toxicity)
• S&S - depend on blood concentration
• Mx - ABC, intralipid
2. Subarachnoid - high block (total spinal)• Incidence 1 in 5000 – 50,000, more common after ‘pepper potting’
• S&S- hypotension, difficulty speaking, agitation , resp/cardiac arrest
• Mx – ABC , wedge, vasopressors, delivery
3. Subdural - high patchy block• Possibly 1 in 100?
• Slow onset block with thoracic /cervical blocks but poor lumbar block
• S&S – pain, rarely significant hypotension , Horner’s syndrome
• Mx – re-site epidural
Why are all Epidural top up’s a test Dose?
3. Subdural
Tips:
1. Feels hard to inject
Subdural Block
Subdural Block
Where could your epidural catheter be? 1. Intravenous - in Batson’s plexus (LA toxicity)
• S&S - depend on blood concentration
• Mx - ABC, intralipid
2. Subarachnoid - high block (total spinal)• Incidence 1 in 5000 – 50,000, more common after ‘pepper potting’
• S&S- hypotension, difficulty speaking, agitation , resp/cardiac arrest
• Mx – ABC , wedge, vasopressors, delivery
3. Subdural - high patchy block• Possibly 1 in 100?
• Slow onset block with thoracic /cervical blocks but poor lumbar block
• S&S – pain, rarely significant hypotension, Horner’s syndrome
• Mx – re-site epidural
Epidural troubleshooting after
Injection : Inadequate Analgesia
Inadequate analgesia (I:10)
• 10% labour epidurals (2% completely)
• 1% SSS
Causes:
1. Adequate spread but breakthrough pain
2. Inadequate spread
Inadequate analgesia (I:10)
• Check list : patient & epidural
• History - Gravida / Stage of labour / position of baby
• Epidural Chart - What drugs and how much?
• Pump
• Catheter
• Epidural Site
We need to check the ‘Right Dose of the Right
Drug in the Right Place’ has been given
Adequate spread but breakthrough Pain
• Patient Factors:
• Malrotation - OP baby
• Second stage - LDM may not be sufficient **
• Scar rupture
• Abruption
** Risk v Benefit: no pain v motor block (instrumental)
Inadequate spread • Epidural or Patient Factors:
• Unilateral block
• Missed Segment
• Patchy block * think subdural* - re-site epidural
• Groin or perineal - hand delivered top up LDM or 0.25%
bupivacaine
Failed Blocks – Inadequate Spread
Foraminal Escape
Failed Blocks – Inadequate Analgesia
Foraminal Escape
• Pull catheter back 1cm
• Bolus with patient on their
side
• Large volume LDM
• Re-assess
• Further bolus of 0.25%
bupivacaine?
• Re-site
Failed Blocks – Inadequate Spread
Median Epidural Septum
Failed Blocks – Inadequate Analgesia
Median Epidural Septum
• Low volume injected
unilateral block
• Greater volume some
movement to the right
• Attempt re-site
• Likely will be the 2%
epidurals that don’t work
• SSS for LSCS
Complications
Complications
• Bloody Tap / LA Toxicity
• High Block
• Patchy Subdural Block
• Inadequate Analgesia
• Dural tap
Dural Tap • incidence < 1%
• Recognise - Re-insert stylet!
• To confirm CSF - warm fluid / pH / protein / glucose
• ADMIT and inform
• spinal catheter / re-site / abandon
• local protocol
AFTER A DURAL TAP ALL TOP UP’S BY ANAESTHETIST
Golden Rules for Labour Epidurals
Golden Rules• All epidural top ups are a test dose
• Always aspirate before injection
• Have a system for managing substandard epidurals
• 2% do not improve despite ‘Rescue measures’
• If it is not working take it out !
• Documentation/ Explanation
• Re-site - Ask for help?
Any Questions?
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