N/A
N=110
Assessment of the Use of Ultrasound for Epidural Catheter Placement and Comparison With Palpation Technique
Labor Pain
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02271100 ↗Enrolled (actual)
110
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Mar 2026
Primary outcome: Primary: Placement Below L3 Vertebra — 49; 49 Participants
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- ultrasound guidance (Device); palpation guidance (Device)
- Age
- Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- Female
- Sponsor
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Primary completion
- Dec 2018
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Placement Below L3 Vertebra |
49; 49 | — |
| SECONDARY Time to Placement |
173; 162 | — |
| SECONDARY Success of the Epidural Catheter Placement |
51; 49 | — |
Summary
This study is intended to determine whether ultrasound imaging can improve the ability to place a spinal or epidural needle in obstetric anesthesia. By evaluating the use of ultrasound for the placement of epidural catheters the investigators hope to answer two questions:
1. How does the traditional technique based on palpation compare to one using ultrasound to place an epidural catheter? 2. Does ultrasound reduce one potential risk in epidural placement?
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Healthy ASA I or II parturient
- Will be receiving neuraxial placement for labor, having been consented for the procedure
Exclusion Criteria
- ASA III or IV
- Unable to participate in the study due to severe pain
- Contraindications to neuraxial analgesia
- Previous spinal surgery in the lumbar or sacral area (L1 through Sacrum)
- BMI greater than 37
- Height less than 60 inches
- Significant scoliosis
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02271100). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.