COMPARISON OF COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SINGLE-HOLED AND MULTI-HOLED EXTRADURAL CATHETERS

Adverse events associated with single-holed and multi-holed extradural catheters were compared in obstetric practice. Two hundred and forty-five patients were given an extradural block using a single-holed catheter and 229 received a block via a multi-holed catheter. There was no difference in the incidence of major side effects. Flow of fluid under gravity in the catheter was restricted significantly more often in the singleholed catheters. Blood was found significantly more often in the multi-holed catheters. © 1990 British Journal of Anaesthesia.