Document Detail


Determining the accuracy of caudal needle placement in children: a comparison of the swoosh test and ultrasonography.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18616491     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare two confirmatory tests - the 'swoosh' test (auscultation during caudal injection) and real time ultrasound imaging (both transverse 2D imaging and color flow Doppler imaging) in pediatric patients receiving a caudal epidural block. METHODS/MATERIALS: This was a retrospective observational study of caudal injections administered to 83 pediatric patients (0-11 years) presenting for elective surgery over a 4 month time period. While injecting small aliquots of local anesthetic, a standard stethoscope was placed over the lower lumbar spine to auscultate for the 'swoosh' test. An ultrasound machine (Sonosite Titan, Sonosite Inc., Bothell, WA, USA) was then utilized for real-time visualization of caudal injectate. Each test performed during the caudal injection (swoosh, turbulence on 2D imaging, or color flow on Doppler imaging) was recorded as positive, negative or equivocal. RESULTS: Eighty out of 83 patients (96.4%) had a successful caudal block based on minimal or no perioperative narcotic use, minimal or no response to surgical stimulation, the presence of motor blockade and patient comfort in the PACU. Ultrasound was significantly superior to 'swoosh' for sensitivity (96.3% vs 57.5%), negative predictive (40% vs 5.6 value) % and likelihood ratio (2.89 vs 1.73). Specificity and positive predictive value were not different between 'swoosh' and ultrasound. Of the ultrasound tests, turbulence was more sensitive than color flow Doppler (95.0% vs 78.8%). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is superior to the 'swoosh' test as an objective confirmatory technique during caudal block placement in children. We found the presence or absence of turbulence during injection within the caudal space to be the best single indicator of caudal success. We think ultrasonography should be used, if available, when teaching this technique.
Authors:
Karthik Raghunathan; Donald Schwartz; Neil Roy Connelly
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Evaluation Studies; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Paediatric anaesthesia     Volume:  18     ISSN:  1460-9592     ISO Abbreviation:  Paediatr Anaesth     Publication Date:  2008 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-07-11     Completed Date:  2008-10-09     Revised Date:  2009-03-12    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9206575     Medline TA:  Paediatr Anaesth     Country:  France    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  606-12     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Anesthesiology, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anesthesia, Caudal / instrumentation*
Auscultation / methods*
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Lumbar Vertebrae / drug effects,  ultrasonography*
Male
Needles*
Predictive Value of Tests
Reproducibility of Results
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Surgical Procedures, Elective
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / methods
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Paediatr Anaesth. 2008 Dec;18(12):1233-4   [PMID:  18717801 ]
Paediatr Anaesth. 2008 Dec;18(12):1237-8   [PMID:  18717799 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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