Following labor, epidural or combined spinal-epidural (CSE) catheters are kept in place and deactivated. However, many women opt for procedures such as tubal ligation, which may require epidural anesthesia as a method of pain relief. Our study aims to confirm the ability to predict reactivation of epidural catheter in postpartum females through the electrical epidural stimulation test (EST) which was first described by the PI of this study approximately 20 years ago.
In this study, investigators hope to investigate the ability of the electrical epidural stimulation test (EST) to predict reactivation of epidural catheter in postpartum females. The standard practice for confirming the reactivation of epidural or CSE catheters requires methods such as dosing the local anesthetic. With the EST test this will allow for the anesthesiologist to determine whether or not the epidural can be activated immediately.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
EST measures sensory/motor responses
Electrical Epidural Stimulation Test
Investigate the ability of the electrical epidural stimulation test (EST) to predict epidural catheter reactivation.
Time frame: Duration of EST test (approximately 1-2 hours)
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