Epidural Catheters

Also known as: epidural, catheter for epidural anesthesia.

What are epidural catheters?

An epidural catheter is a catheter that is placed into the epidural, an open space in the spine near the spinal cord and nerve roots. It delivers anesthesia for procedures such as labor and delivery and other medical procedures.
 

What happens during the procedure?

The catheter is inserted through the skin and threaded into the epidural space of the spine. It is then used to deliver anesthesia to numb the body and relieve pain. The epidural catheter is typically only used for a short period of time.
 

Is any special preparation needed?

The patient may need to avoid food, drink and certain medications for a period of time before the procedure.
 

What are the risk factors?

Bleeding, discomfort, infection, numbness, weakness or loss of sensation are potential risks of epidural catheters.

Reviewed by: Balagangadhar Totapally, MD

This page was last updated on: March 26, 2019 12:27 PM