Safety of Two Epidural Catheters in Thoracic Epidural Anaesthesia (TEA)

Overview

Primary Objective: The primary objective is to demonstrate that the safety of Perifix New is non-inferior to using Perifix Standard when applied for thoracic epidural anaesthesia. Primary Endpoint: Incidence of spontaneous paraesthesia during catheter insertion Secondary Objectives: The secondary objectives are to determine the safety and performance of the investigational product: frequency of inadvertent vascular cannulation, difficulties involved in insertion and removal of the catheter, other safety features and data for the evaluation of handling characteristics. Title: Randomised, prospective, single-blind, controlled, study on the safety of two epidural catheters in patients undergoing surgery under thoracic epidural anaesthesia Investigational Product: Perifix Epidural Anaesthesia Catheter Test Product: Perifix New Reference Product: Perifix Standard Number of Sites and Countries: 1 site in The Netherlands Indication: Thoracic epidural anaesthesia Study Design: Randomised, prospective, single-blind, controlled study in 1 study center, phase IV Perifix New and Perifix Standard meet all the appropriate provisions of the relevant legislation implementing European Directives (both have CE-marking). Study Duration: 2 year duration Study Start: March-April 2005 Sample Size: n = 2\*70 patients

Epidural anaesthesia is a central neuraxial block technique with many applications. Improvements in equipment, drugs and technique have made it a popular and versatile anaesthetic technique, with applications in surgery, obstetrics and pain control. Both single injection and catheter techniques can be used. Its versatility means it can be used as an anaesthetic, as an analgesic adjuvant to general anaesthesia, and for postoperative analgesia in procedures involving the lower limbs, perineum, pelvis, abdomen and thorax. Although epidural anaesthesia is a safe technique, during the insertion of epidural catheters several side effects may occur, including transient paraesthesia and inadvertent vascular cannulation. Reported incidences for paraesthesia vary widely between about 0.2% and 50% in different articles, depending on the catheter (catheter material, soft-tipped or firm-tipped catheter), the applied technique (lumbar or thoracic epidural anaesthesia, depth of catheter insertion), the approach (midline or paramedian) and the included patients (obstetrical or non-obstetrical). Paraesthesias are not supposed to lead to permanent neurological sequelae, but are unpleasant and perturbing sensations for the patient. Besides inadvertent intrathecal location of the catheter, further problems include technical difficulties during threading or removal of the catheter. Here, the catheter shaft material seems to be the crucial factor for the incidence of problems. Based upon years of experience, a wide range of epidural catheters were created, among them the Perifix catheter of B. Braun. Common features are their high tensile strength and stretch resistance, excellent shaft stability with easy visualisation of blood or spinal fluid due to the crystal clear material, no risk of forming loops or knots, and softening of catheter within a few hours due to water absorption of the polyamide material. Recently, B. Braun Melsungen AG has developed a new generation of Perifix epidural catheters, which are already CE-labeled. These new catheters are different in their composition compared to the current Perifix Standard catheter with regard to the catheter material and tip configuration. They have an outer poly-urethane liner and an inner polyamide body. Experimental tests have shown that the positive features (e.g. pushability, kink resistance, gliding, withdrawal) of the Perifix Standard catheter can be maintained. Due to the polyurethane outer layer, the catheter gets softer when reaching body temperature immediately upon insertion. Based on this, it is expected that paraesthesias during catheter injection can be reduced by at least 20%.