RESUMO
Objective To investigate the effect of wire?reinforced epidural catheters on the success rate of epidural catheterization for labor analgesia. Methods A total of 200 nulliparous parturients who re?ceived labor analgesia voluntarily, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, aged 20-45 yr, with body mass index<35 kg∕m2, were divided into 2 groups (n=100 each) using a random number table: common catheter group ( group Ⅰ) and reinforced catheter group ( group Ⅱ) . After suc?cessful epidural puncture, the corresponding catheter was inserted inⅠandⅡgroups. The development of difficult insertion, intravascular catheter insertion or paresthesia during insertion was defined as a failure of epidural catheterization. The occurrence of the failure of epidural catheterization was recorded. Results Compared with group Ⅰ, the failure rate of epidural catheterization was significantly decreased in groupⅡ( P<0.05) . Conclusion Wire?reinforced epidural catheters can raise the success rate of epidural catheter?ization for labor analgesia.