Tunnelling of caudal epidural catheters in infants.

ABSTRACT

The working conditions in the developing world necessitate the development of many adaptations and improvizations of accepted anaesthetic techniques to improve patient care. Subcutaneous tunnelling of caudally placed epidural catheters is one such improvization to prevent the soiling of the catheter by urine and faeces. This study compares the duration of retention of catheter in a group with tunnelled catheters with an untunnelled group. The absence of a catheter emerging through skin at the site of catheter insertion hastens healing thus prolonging the retention of catheter in the tunnelled group and soiling ceases to be a major problem.