Evaluation of thoracic epidural catheter position and migration using radio-opaque catheters

Migration of thoracic epidural radio-opaque catheters was evaluated in 25 patients scheduled for thoracic surgery in the supine position (n = 5) or in the lateral position with lateral extension of the thoracic spine (n = 20). Chest radiography was performed daily for 3 days after operation. Eighty-nine per cent of catheter tips were visualised in the epidural space. The catheter tip position was unchanged in all patients operated upon in the supine position. In the group operated upon in the lateral position, the catheter tip retracted from day 1 to day 2 by an average of 0.69 cm (SD 1.08; p < 0.05); from day 2 to day 3 the average retraction was 0.35 cm (SD 0.67; p < 0.05).