TY - JOUR
T1 - Catheters for neural blockade
T2 - Materials and designs
AU - Edell, T. A.
AU - Ramamurthy, S.
PY - 1998/1/1
Y1 - 1998/1/1
N2 - Anesthesia has progressed leaps and bounds from the days of ether, cocaine, a finger on the pulse, and an eye on the patient. Neural blockade has advanced from topical application and local infiltration to continuous anesthesia and analgesia of neural compartments. Advances in pharmacology, neural physiology, and materials and designs have markedly broadened the applications of neural blockade over the past century. Continuous techniques have advanced from indwelling needles to catheters of multiple materials and designs. We have reviewed the literature in order to discuss the catheters available today, the materials used, the different design characteristics and their advantages and disadvantages. In particular, the controversies involving single-versus multiorifice epidural catheters and the use of microcatheters for continuous spinal anesthesia are examined. The ideal catheter would combine ease of placement and consistently excellent neural blockade with no complications. However, while awaiting its arrival, we must choose among the catheters currently available.
AB - Anesthesia has progressed leaps and bounds from the days of ether, cocaine, a finger on the pulse, and an eye on the patient. Neural blockade has advanced from topical application and local infiltration to continuous anesthesia and analgesia of neural compartments. Advances in pharmacology, neural physiology, and materials and designs have markedly broadened the applications of neural blockade over the past century. Continuous techniques have advanced from indwelling needles to catheters of multiple materials and designs. We have reviewed the literature in order to discuss the catheters available today, the materials used, the different design characteristics and their advantages and disadvantages. In particular, the controversies involving single-versus multiorifice epidural catheters and the use of microcatheters for continuous spinal anesthesia are examined. The ideal catheter would combine ease of placement and consistently excellent neural blockade with no complications. However, while awaiting its arrival, we must choose among the catheters currently available.
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U2 - 10.1016/S1084-208X(98)80018-9
DO - 10.1016/S1084-208X(98)80018-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0031949685
VL - 2
SP - 103
EP - 110
JO - Techniques in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management
JF - Techniques in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management
SN - 1084-208X
IS - 2
ER -