Identifikation des Epiduralraums mithilfe einer Druckkurvenanalyse (CompuFlo®-Technologie): eine Fallserie

Zusammenfassung

Zur Identifizierung des Epiduralraums bei Anlage rückenmarknaher Regionalverfahren bedienen sich die meisten Anästhesisten der Widerstandsverlustmethode („Loss-of-resistance“-Technik). Diese Technik hat einerseits einen subjektiven Charakter und ist in gewissen Fällen nur bedingt verlässlich, weshalb wiederholt Ansätze zur Objektivierung unternommen worden sind. Die sog. CompuFlo®-Technologie wurde bereits vor einigen Jahren beschrieben und lieferte in ersten Studien vielversprechende Ergebnisse. Anhand dieser Fallserie werden die ersten Anwendungen im deutschsprachigen Raum illustriert.

Abstract

Anesthesiologists commonly perform the loss of resistance technique in order to identify the epidural space during neuraxial procedures; however, this technique is subjective and lacks reliability in certain cases. The so-called CompuFlo® technology provides objective information about the position of the epidural needle by means of a pressure curve and acoustic signals. The technology was introduced several years ago and was evaluated in several trials, which showed promising results. The purpose of the present publication is to report on the first experiences with the CompuFlo® technology in German-speaking countries. A series of 24 epidural procedures using the CompuFlo® device was carried out in routine daily practice. The epidural space was successfully identified in 23 cases. Conversion to the conventional loss of resistance technique was performed during the initial cases in a prolonged procedure. The CompuFlo® technique is considered to be a promising technology, which might help to reduce complications after epidural anesthesia, e.g. postdural puncture headache.