[Epidurography in the continuous peridural anesthesia technic in geriatric surgery].
The radiographic opacification of the peridural space was carried out prior to any injection of anaesthetic solution, both in the interest of security and to maximize the chances of success, on a homogeneous series of patients of more than 75 years of age, benefiting from continuous peridural analgesia. The following observations are made: - the direction of the catheter is ascending in 94 p. 100 of the cases, - the frequency of malpositions seems to increase with the lenght of the catheter introduced into the space, - the images obtained by injections of the radio-opaque agent are sufficiently specific to allow verification of the extra-dural situation of the apex of the catheter, - the permeability of the intervertebral foramina is found in 36 p. 100 of the cases, - the unilateral blocks appear to be exceptional, the technical difficulties inherent in the effects of aging on the vertebral system being compensated for by the constant success whenever the peridural space is reached.
[Epidurography in the continuous peridural anesthesia technic in geriatric surgery]. The radiographic opacification of the peridural space was carried out prior to any injection of anaesthetic solution, both in the interest of security and to maximize the chances of success, on a homogeneous series of patients of more than 75 years of age, benefiting from continuous peridural analgesia. The following observations are made: - the direction of the catheter is ascending in 94 p. 100 of the cases, - the frequency of malpositions seems to increase with the lenght of the catheter introduced into the space, - the images obtained by injections of the radio-opaque agent are sufficiently specific to allow verification of the extra-dural situation of the apex of the catheter, - the permeability of the intervertebral foramina is found in 36 p. 100 of the cases, - the unilateral blocks appear to be exceptional, the technical difficulties inherent in the effects of aging on the vertebral system being compensated for by the constant success whenever the peridural space is reached.