Pressure generated during insertion of lumbar epidurals. A comparison with the Portex epidural injection simulator.

The aim of this study was to measure pressures exerted during insertion of lumbar epidurals in obstetric patients. The pressures were compared with those obtained when the Portex epidural injection simulator was used, and were significantly greater when a saline technique was used compared to those when air was used (p less than 0.05). There were no differences between the pressures obtained with the simulator and those measured in vivo.