Abstract
Thoracic epidurals are an excellent way to provide pain control for thoracic and abdominal surgeries and injuries. Compared to lumbar epidurals, they can be more challenging to place because of the relatively sharper angles the anesthesiologist must maneuver to reach the thoracic epidural space. This chapter begins by reviewing the benefits and risks to placing a thoracic epidural. It then navigates through different techniques for placing thoracic epidurals, starting with appropriate positioning, identification of anatomical landmarks, determination of the best insertion site to achieve sensory blockade of targeted dermatomes, and steps to reaching the thoracic epidural space.
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Sampankanpanich Soria, C., Lee, D.E., Manecke, G.R. (2021). Thoracic Epidurals. In: Anesthesiology Resident Manual of Procedures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65732-1_34
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65732-1_34
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