Vessel puncture with epidural catheters. Experience in obstetric patients.

The reported incidence of blood vessel puncture after placement of a needle and catheter into the lumbar epidural space in obstetric practice appears to vary between 1 and 10%. This study was undertaken to assess the incidence of blood vessel puncture related to catheter insertion. Two methods of catheter placement were used to see if there were any difference in the incidence of vessel puncture. The incidence of blood vessel puncture after direct catheter placement was found to be 9% compared to 3% after prior injection of 10 ml of 0.5% plain bupivacaine into the epidural space. (p = 0.05).