THE RATE OF SUCCESSFUL REACTIVATION OF LABOR EPIDURAL CATHETERS FOR POSTPARTUM TUBAL-LIGATION SURGERY

Background and Objectives. Epidural catheters placed for analgesia dur ing labor and delivery can be reused in the postpartum period for post partum tubal ligation anesthesia. This study examined the success rate of such reactivation of epidural catheters, Methods. We studied all p atients who had received an epidural anesthetic for labor and delivery and who had the epidural catheter reactivated at a later time to prov ide anesthesia for a postpartum tubal ligation (PPTL) procedure betwee n January, 1993 and June, 1995. The patients were divided into four gr oups based on the interval between delivery and PPTL incision: (a) les s than 8 hours, (b) 8 hours to less than 16 hours, (c) 16 hours to les s than 24 hours and (d) 24 hours or more; Results. Overall, 92% (129/1 40) of the patients had their epidural catheters successfully reactiva ted. The success rate in all but the last group was over 90%, while on ly 80% of catheters could be reactivated if left in place for more tha n 24 hours. Conclusions. Epidural catheters can be reactivated reliabl y for as long as 24 hours after they are placed.