Assessment of the Optimal Distal End Length of Echogenic Perineural Catheters to Facilitate Successful Coiling: A Regional Anesthesia Simulator-Based Technical Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: We investigated the optimal length of a flexible end-portion of an echogenic-straight perineural catheter that would facilitate a catheter's flexible distal portion to coil behind the sciatic nerve in a Blue Phantom nerve block simulator (Elevate Healthcare, Sarasota, Florida, United States). METHODS: In 80 20G perineural echogenic catheters, the integral stylet was retracted at various lengths (from 3 cm to 10 cm) so that the optimal catheter's flexible length that enables the catheter's flexible end portion (3-10 cm) to coil could be evaluated. Ten perineural catheters were allocated per cm of retraction. In our binary format, two variables were included: the first was the length of the catheter's distal flexible end, and the second was whether the catheter's distal end was coiled or not coiled. Optimal probabilities (90% and 95%) predicting the catheter's optimal flexible distal length that facilitates successful coiling or not were evaluated by probit regression. RESULTS: <0.001). Injection of normal saline through the 60 unobstructed catheters contacted with the sciatic nerve in 55 cases (92%). CONCLUSION: Retracting the integral stylet of a perineural catheter by specific lengths facilitates the coiling of its flexible distal end with high probability. This configuration could provide a functional buffer of catheter length, mitigating the risk of tip dislocation from its intended position.
Source: Cureus
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7122711619