[Contribution of the CT to a special technique of percutaneous lumbar anesthetic block]

The authors suggest the use of CT for the positioning of a permanent catheter, suitable for lumbar anesthetic block in painful lower limbs syndromes. This technique was employed on 12 patients suffering from vascular diseases of the lower limbs. CT allowed a good visualization of both bone structures and soft tissues, which are essential landmarks for catheter positioning. The catheter was inserted with its anterior end fixed to the anterior abdominal wall, which allowed the patient to manage its own treatment. In all cases we obtained marked symptoms regression, after 5 months of treatment. No such complications were observed as those report in literature. The main contraindication appeared to be the aneurysmatic dilatation of both aorta and iliac arteries.