Why the study?
Does loss of resistance to air compared to saline reduce the incidence of paraesthesia in obstetric patients requiring epidural catheters?
Does loss of resistance to air compared to saline reduce the incidence of paraesthesia in obstetric patients requiring epidural catheters?
There is no significant difference in the incidence of paraesthesia, other complications, or quality of analgesia when using air versus saline for loss of resistance to locate the epidural space in obstetric patients.
No paraesthesia difference by medium in this cohort; leaves open optimal choice pending randomized trials.
The epidural space was located in 32 obstetric patients using loss of resistance to air, while in a further 35 saline was used. The incidence of paraesthesia was 56% in the air group and 57% in the saline group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of other complications or in the quality of analgesia provided.
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Sarna et al. (1990) studied this question.
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