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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT02392533

Ultrasound and Neuraxial Anesthesia in Pregnancy

Ultrasonography is routinely performed during pregnancy by obstetricians to visualize the fetus, making patients familiar and comfortable with its usage. Ultrasonography does not result in adverse effects to the mother or fetus and is readily available at most facilities, yet is not routinely used to identify lumbar interspaces prior to providing neuraxial anesthesia. Ultrasonography is a valuable tool for accurately identifying lumbar intervertebral spaces and is more accurate than simple palpation of obscure anatomic landmarks. The investigators are interested to know the accuracy of anatomic landmark palpation in predicting the lumbar interspace of neuraxial anesthesia administration compared to identification of the interspace by ultrasound. The investigators are also interested in presenting anesthesia providers with feedback regarding their accuracy and then investigating whether this feedback causes a change in provider practice (i.e. use of ultrasound) or improved identification of the interspace prior to providing neuraxial anesthesia.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

The University of Chicago MEDICINE

Chicago, Illinois, 60601, United States

About this study

Informed consent will be obtained and documented. All post-partum patients who received neuraxial anesthesia will be asked to provide consent for ultrasound to be used at their bedside to identify the interspace where the neuraxial anesthetic was administered. A low frequency ultrasound probe and sterile gel will be used to perform the less than five-minute study. The site of the neuraxial anesthetic placement will be identified by the puncture mark on the skin. The investigators will note the patient's medical record number and BMI, the names of the resident and attending anesthesiologist who placed the neuraxial anesthetic, the documented intervertebral space at the time of neuraxial anesthetic placement, anesthetic type, whether ultrasound was used for the initial neuraxial placement, and the documented intervertebral space identified post-partum by ultrasound.

Following 3 months of data collection, information regarding the documented intervertebral space versus the actual intervertebral space that the neuraxial anesthetic was administered will be provided to each anesthesiologist and resident. Following delivery of this information, an additional 3 months of data collection will be performed (the same as the first 3 months) to evaluate whether a practice change took place.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

All post-partum patients > 18 years old who had neuraxial anesthesia for delivery and are English Speaking.

-

Exclusion criteria

Age < 18 years and non-English speaking, and did not have neuraxial anesthesia for delivery.

Treatment and study plan

Education

Other

Education

Primary outcomes

  1. Ultrasound identification of lumbar interspace

    Time frame: 3 months

    Number of vertebral levels different between lumbar interspace on palpation versus on ultrasound

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Chicago

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Ultrasound Confirmation of Neuraxial Anesthetic Vertebral Level in Post-partum Patients

Acronym: USPREG

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2018
First posted
Mar 19, 2015
Registry last updated
Sep 26, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.