Application of Real-time Ultrasound Guidance in Thoracic Epidural Catheter Placement

The consecutive sampling method is used in this clinical trial. Patients who meet inclusion criteria and consent to participate will be recruited Real-time ultrasound-guided epidural placement is performed by an attending anesthesiologists on participants using a paramedian-cross view to approach to the thoracic epidural space.

The process of real-time ultrasound-guided epidural catheter placement is described in detail in the following procedure.

Patient is placed in the prone position with continuous monitoring and oxygen supplementation via nasal cannula. A thin pillow is placed under the upper abdomen. After establishing an adequately sterilized field , the anesthesiologist places curvilinear probe on the 12th rib, then move cranially, until the rib below the target interlaminar space is reached. Then, probe is slid medially to identify anatomical structures: costotransverse joint, transverse process, lamina, superior articular process. Once consecutive laminas and superior articular processes are identified, the probe is the rotated clockwise toward the midline to visualize key ultrasound images from caudal to cranial positions: the lower transverse process, the lamina, the targeted interspace between the lower lamina and base of the upper spinal process. Then, 2ml of 1% lidocaine is administered to numb the anticipated skin puncture site. After that, 18G Tuohy needle is advanced under ultrasound guidance from inferior to superior aiming for the interspace between the lamina and base of the upper spinal process. Since the tip of Tuohy needle reaches the interspace between the lamina and base of the upper spinal process, the anesthesiologist performs a loss-of-resistance test using 0.9% saline to identify the thoracic epidural space. After achieving positive loss-of- resistance test, a catheter is advanced 4-5 cm into the epidural space. Finally, a test dose of 3 ml of 2% lidocaine is administered via the catheter.

At 30 minutes after the test dose, the level of sensory block is assessed by using an ice cube to test cold sensation on the skin. The evaluation will be conducted by an anesthesiologist or an anesthesia nurse. The cold sensation in the thoracic-abdominal dermatomes will be compared to the cold sensation in the shoulder or the ipsilateral arm and any reduction in cold perception in the tested dermatomes will be documented.

After having thoracic epidural catheter placement, the patient undergoes general anesthesia with routine monitoring. Intraoperative management is conducted by another attending anesthesiologist who doesn't participate in the study. After general anesthesia induction and patient positioning, the epidural catheter is activated with a bolus dose of 0.1 ml per kilogram solution of 0.1% ropivacaine + fentanyl 2mcg/ml. Vital signs are monitored every 5 minutes following epidural activation and for 15 minutes after surgical incision.

During the surgery, general anesthesia is maintained with sevoflurane or desflurane at MAC 1-1.2, along with continuous neuromuscular agent infusion to achieve TOF 0-1.The solution containing 0.1% ropivacaine and fentanyl 2mcg/ml at rate 4-8ml per hour is infused continuously via the epidural catheter. An additional intravenous bolus dose of fentanyl 1mcg/kg is administered if heart rate and blood pressure exceed 20% of baseline levels.

Before the completion of surgery, multimodal analgesia is initiated with intravenous paracetamol (15mg/kg) and nefopam (20mg). Additionally, a bolus dose of 0.1ml/kg of local anesthetic solution 0.1% ropivacaine combined with 2mcg/ml fentanyl is administered via the epidural catheter for postoperative pain control.

After surgery, patients will receive multimodal analgesia, including intravenous paracetamol 15 milligrams per kilogram and nefopam 20 milligrams every 8 hours. Epidural analgesia is maintained with a continuous infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine at a rate of 4-8 ml per hour, along with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) morphine bolus dose of 1 milligram, with a 15-minute lockout interval and a maximum dose of 4 mg per hour.

Patients are monitored for vital signs, level of sensory blockade, pain scores using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at rest and during coughing, reported pain location, opioid consumption at specific time points 2, 8, 16, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively. If VAS pain scores at rest exceed 4, a top-up bolus of 4ml of 0.1% ropivacaine is administered via the epidural catheter. Vital signs, pain scores and the level of sensory block are monitored every 15 minutes following the rescue dose. A second 4ml 0.1% ropivacaine bolus can be administered 30 minutes after the first bolus. 30 minutes after the second, if the VAS score at rest still exceeds 4, a rescue 2mg morphine bolus every 15 minutes is administered until the VAS score is less than 4.

The epidural catheter is removed 48 hours after the surgery, provided there are no signs of severe back pain , neurological deficits, hypotension associated with epidural infusion, catheter dislodgement.