Evaluation of Ultrasound (US) Assistance for Anesthesia Trainees for Caesarean Section Spinal Placement

Lawson Health Research Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pregnancy

Treatments: Device: Ultrasound examination

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01444638

R-10-594

17529 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Parturients receiving spinal anesthetic for Cesarean section will be randomized to have/not have pre-spinal ultrasound examination of their back.

Full description

Parturients receiving spinal anesthetic for elective Cesarean section will be randomized to have/not have pre-spinal ultrasound examination of their back, prior to spinal insertion by anesthesia trainees.

The hypothesis is that ultrasound visualization of the patient spinal spaces will allow junior residents to correctly place the spinal needle with fewer attempts.

The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in the primary outcome (number of attempts). i.e. the investigators hypothesize that the number of attempts is not affected by ultrasound assistance. The control group will undergo spinal anesthesia with manual palpation, the standard of care.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Parturient scheduled for elective spinal anesthetic for caesarean section.
2. Resident level PGY1 or PGY2.
3. Resident experience between 2-25 spinal anesthetics.
4. ASA 1-3 scheduled for elective sections

Exclusion criteria

1. Parturient BMI > 40.
2. Emergency C-section.
3. Previous spinal surgery or scoliosis.
4. Parturient refusal
5. Resident refusal
6. Multiple gestations

Trial design

80 participants in 2 patient groups

Ultrasound

Experimental group

Description:

Trainees will receive pre-procedure U/S guided examination of the parturient's back.

Treatment:

Device: Ultrasound examination

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group. (Standard practice) Trainees will NOT receive pre-procedure U/S guided examination.