Accidental epidural catheter removal rates and strength required for disconnection: a retrospective cohort and laboratory study

Abstract Background Epidural catheters are associated with certain risks such as accidental epidural catheter removal, including dislodgement and disconnection. Globally, neuraxial connector designs were revised in 2016 to provide new standardization aimed at decreasing the frequency of misconnectio...

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Main Authors: Yoshiaki Ishida, Yoichiro Homma, Takashi Kawamura, Masatoshi Sagawa, Yoshie Toba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-06-01
Series:BMC Anesthesiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-022-01728-z
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author Yoshiaki Ishida
Yoichiro Homma
Takashi Kawamura
Masatoshi Sagawa
Yoshie Toba
author_facet Yoshiaki Ishida
Yoichiro Homma
Takashi Kawamura
Masatoshi Sagawa
Yoshie Toba
author_sort Yoshiaki Ishida
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Epidural catheters are associated with certain risks such as accidental epidural catheter removal, including dislodgement and disconnection. Globally, neuraxial connector designs were revised in 2016 to provide new standardization aimed at decreasing the frequency of misconnections during the administration of medications. However, no studies have investigated accidental epidural catheter removal after the revised standardization. This study aimed to examine differences in dislodgement and disconnection rates associated with different catheter connector types, and to investigate the linear tensile strength required to induce disconnection. Methods This retrospective cohort study included adult patients who underwent elective surgery and received patient-controlled epidural analgesia. Patients were divided into groups according to the type of catheter connection used: old standard, new standard, and new standard with taping groups. Furthermore, we prepared 60 sets of epidural catheters and connectors comprising 20 sets for each of the old, new, and taping groups, and used a digital tension meter to measure the maximum tensile strength required to induce disconnection. Results This clinical study involved 360, 182, and 378 patients in the old, new, and taping groups, respectively. Dislodgement rates did not differ statistically among the three groups, while there was a significant difference in disconnection rates. Propensity score matching analysis for disconnection rates showed no difference between the old and new groups (2.8% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.574), while the new group had higher rates than the taping group (6.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.002). This laboratory study identified that a tensile strength of 12.41 N, 12.06 N, and 19.65 N was required for disconnection in the old, new, and taping groups, respectively, and revealed no significant difference between the new and old groups (p = 0.823), but indicated a significant difference between the new and taping groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions This clinical study suggested that dislodgement rates did not change among the three groups. Both clinical and laboratory studies revealed that disconnection rates did not change between the old and new connectors. Moreover, as a strategy to prevent accidents, taping the connecting points of the catheter connectors led to an increase in the tensile strength required for disconnection.
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spelling doaj.art-b597677410c946dd81b78d31f1f4b63a2022-12-22T00:23:52ZengBMCBMC Anesthesiology1471-22532022-06-0122111110.1186/s12871-022-01728-zAccidental epidural catheter removal rates and strength required for disconnection: a retrospective cohort and laboratory studyYoshiaki Ishida0Yoichiro Homma1Takashi Kawamura2Masatoshi Sagawa3Yoshie Toba4Department of Anesthesiology, Seirei Hamamatsu General HospitalDepartment of General Internal Medicine, Seirei Hamamatsu General HospitalDepartment of Clinical Engineering, Seirei Hamamatsu General HospitalDepartment of Clinical Engineering, Seirei Hamamatsu General HospitalDepartment of Anesthesiology, Seirei Hamamatsu General HospitalAbstract Background Epidural catheters are associated with certain risks such as accidental epidural catheter removal, including dislodgement and disconnection. Globally, neuraxial connector designs were revised in 2016 to provide new standardization aimed at decreasing the frequency of misconnections during the administration of medications. However, no studies have investigated accidental epidural catheter removal after the revised standardization. This study aimed to examine differences in dislodgement and disconnection rates associated with different catheter connector types, and to investigate the linear tensile strength required to induce disconnection. Methods This retrospective cohort study included adult patients who underwent elective surgery and received patient-controlled epidural analgesia. Patients were divided into groups according to the type of catheter connection used: old standard, new standard, and new standard with taping groups. Furthermore, we prepared 60 sets of epidural catheters and connectors comprising 20 sets for each of the old, new, and taping groups, and used a digital tension meter to measure the maximum tensile strength required to induce disconnection. Results This clinical study involved 360, 182, and 378 patients in the old, new, and taping groups, respectively. Dislodgement rates did not differ statistically among the three groups, while there was a significant difference in disconnection rates. Propensity score matching analysis for disconnection rates showed no difference between the old and new groups (2.8% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.574), while the new group had higher rates than the taping group (6.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.002). This laboratory study identified that a tensile strength of 12.41 N, 12.06 N, and 19.65 N was required for disconnection in the old, new, and taping groups, respectively, and revealed no significant difference between the new and old groups (p = 0.823), but indicated a significant difference between the new and taping groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions This clinical study suggested that dislodgement rates did not change among the three groups. Both clinical and laboratory studies revealed that disconnection rates did not change between the old and new connectors. Moreover, as a strategy to prevent accidents, taping the connecting points of the catheter connectors led to an increase in the tensile strength required for disconnection.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-022-01728-zEpidural analgesiaEpidural catheterAccidental removalCatheter connectorDislodgementDisconnection
spellingShingle Yoshiaki Ishida
Yoichiro Homma
Takashi Kawamura
Masatoshi Sagawa
Yoshie Toba
Accidental epidural catheter removal rates and strength required for disconnection: a retrospective cohort and laboratory study
BMC Anesthesiology
Epidural analgesia
Epidural catheter
Accidental removal
Catheter connector
Dislodgement
Disconnection
title Accidental epidural catheter removal rates and strength required for disconnection: a retrospective cohort and laboratory study
title_full Accidental epidural catheter removal rates and strength required for disconnection: a retrospective cohort and laboratory study
title_fullStr Accidental epidural catheter removal rates and strength required for disconnection: a retrospective cohort and laboratory study
title_full_unstemmed Accidental epidural catheter removal rates and strength required for disconnection: a retrospective cohort and laboratory study
title_short Accidental epidural catheter removal rates and strength required for disconnection: a retrospective cohort and laboratory study
title_sort accidental epidural catheter removal rates and strength required for disconnection a retrospective cohort and laboratory study
topic Epidural analgesia
Epidural catheter
Accidental removal
Catheter connector
Dislodgement
Disconnection
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-022-01728-z
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