Subcutaneous tunneling of caudal catheters reduces the rate of bacterial colonization to that of lumbar epidural catheters.

摘要: Bacterial colonization is regarded as a causative factor for septic complications of caudal catheters in children. To determine whether tunneling reduces the bacterial rate effectively, we evaluated 506 children being treated with tunneled or untunneled lumbar epidural catheters. Four-hundred-nine completed study. After aseptic removal, were cultured and sent microbiological assessment. We found 29% catheters, 11% 9% No severe infectious reported. There was no correlation between catheter retention time except first 24 h, during which detected. The overall remained constant at approximately 13%. positive redness entry site. conclude that can be used postoperative analgesia without an increased risk infection.