2011 Volume 31 Issue 2 Pages 202-208
Epidural procedures under fluoroscopy can be performed safely and accurately, and allow a direct view of needle puncture sites. Therefore, these procedures are recommended for epidural catheter insertion in obese patients and those with difficult or abnormal spines. Fluoroscopic machine preparation, needle insertion under fluoroscopy and epidural catheter insertion are clearly explained. First, 0.5 ml of contrast medium is injected through the epidural catheter and an antero-posterior roentgenogram is taken to observe the longitudinal spread of the contrast medium in the cephalad and caudal directions. The position of the epidural catheter tip and spread of the contrast medium can provide information about the passage of the catheter tip through an intravascular, subdural, subarachnoid or extra-epidural space.
