Clinical Trial: Safety of Two Epidural Catheters in Thoracic Epidural Anaesthesia (TEA)

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Randomised, Prospective, Single-blind, Controlled Multicenter Study on the Safety of Two Epidural Catheters in Patients Undergoing Surgery Under Thoracic Epidural Anaesthesia

Brief Summary:

Primary Objective: The primary objective is to demonstrate that the safety of Perifix New is non-inferior to using Perifix Standard when applied for thoracic epidural anaesthesia.

Primary Endpoint: Incidence of spontaneous paraesthesia during catheter insertion

Secondary Objectives: The secondary objectives are to determine the safety and performance of the investigational product: frequency of inadvertent vascular cannulation, difficulties involved in insertion and removal of the catheter, other safety features and data for the evaluation of handling characteristics.

Title: Randomised, prospective, single-blind, controlled, study on the safety of two epidural catheters in patients undergoing surgery under thoracic epidural anaesthesia

Investigational Product: Perifix Epidural Anaesthesia Catheter

Test Product: Perifix New

Reference Product: Perifix Standard

Number of Sites and Countries: 1 site in The Netherlands

Indication: Thoracic epidural anaesthesia

Study Design: Randomised, prospective, single-blind, controlled study in 1 study center, phase IV

Perifix New and Perifix Standard meet all the appropriate provisions of the relevant legislation implementing European Directives (both have CE-marking).

Study Duration: 2 year duration

Study Start: March-April 2005

Sample Size: n = 2*7

Detailed Summary:

Epidural anaesthesia is a central neuraxial block technique with many applications. Improvements in equipment, drugs and technique have made it a popular and versatile anaesthetic technique, with applications in surgery, obstetrics and pain control. Both single injection and catheter techniques can be used. Its versatility means it can be used as an anaesthetic, as an analgesic adjuvant to general anaesthesia, and for postoperative analgesia in procedures involving the lower limbs, perineum, pelvis, abdomen and thorax.

Although epidural anaesthesia is a safe technique, during the insertion of epidural catheters several side effects may occur, including transient paraesthesia and inadvertent vascular cannulation.

Reported incidences for paraesthesia vary widely between about 0.2% and 50% in different articles, depending on the catheter (catheter material, soft-tipped or firm-tipped catheter), the applied technique (lumbar or thoracic epidural anaesthesia, depth of catheter insertion), the approach (midline or paramedian) and the included patients (obstetrical or non-obstetrical). Paraesthesias are not supposed to lead to permanent neurological sequelae, but are unpleasant and perturbing sensations for the patient.

Besides inadvertent intrathecal location of the catheter, further problems include technical difficulties during threading or removal of the catheter. Here, the catheter shaft material seems to be the crucial factor for the incidence of problems.

Based upon years of experience, a wide range of epidural catheters were created, among them the Perifix catheter of B. Braun. Common features are their high tensile strength and stretch resistance, excellent shaft stability with easy visualisation of blood or spinal fluid d
Sponsor: Maastricht University Medical Center

Current Primary Outcome: The primary end-point will be the incidence of spontaneous paraesthesia during catheter insertion in TEA-patients. [ Time Frame: 1 hour ]

Original Primary Outcome: The primary end-point will be the incidence of spontaneous paraesthesia during catheter insertion in TEA-patients.

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • The frequency of inadvertent vascular cannulation [ Time Frame: 1 hour ]
  • Difficulties involved in insertion and removal of the catheter [ Time Frame: 1 week ]
  • Data on additional complications [ Time Frame: 1 week ]
  • Data for the evaluation of handling characteristics [ Time Frame: 1 week ]


Original Secondary Outcome:

  • The frequency of inadvertent vascular cannulation
  • Difficulties involved in insertion and removal of the catheter
  • Data on additional complications
  • Data for the evaluation of handling characteristics


Information By: Maastricht University Medical Center

Dates:
Date Received: October 31, 2006
Date Started: April 2005
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 12, 2011
Last Verified: May 2011