Development of the Automatic Identifying Instrument for the Spinal Epidural Space

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To confirm practical usefulness of the newly invented automatic identifying instrument for the spinal epidural space. METHOD: Epidural block with blind approach has been done for the patients who suffered from lower back pain with radiating pain due to spinal disorders. Conventional blind approaches using the glass syringe (control group) and the newly invented instrument (experimental group) were applied to each 30 patients, respectively. Epidurography was used for the confirmation to conclude success or not. RESULTS: Two cases were failed in the control group. One case showed injected contrast media in the interspinal ligament, another case revealed dura-puncture. But there was no failure in the experimental group. The mean timefrom skin-penetration to epidurography was 299.7+/-13.6 second in control group and 184.0+/-16.3 second in experimental group. The mean time from changing to glass syringe (control group) or epidural detector (experimental group) to epidurography was 146.0+/-14.0 second in control group and 60.0+/-7.0 second in experimental group. The time for epidural block was much less in experimental group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This newly invented epidural detector could make the epidural block easier, safer, and faster. We suggest this instrument is useful complementary method for spinal epidural procedure.