Reliability of Ultrasound Assisted Epidural Analgesia in Obese and Normal Weight Parturients

Reliability of Ultrasound Assisted Epidural Analgesia in Obese and Normal Weight Parturients

This study wants to investigate if ultrasound assisted epidural catheter insertion for labor analgesia is easier and safer to the standard epidural technique.

This study has four specific aims:

1. to evaluate congruity between palpatory technique and ultrasound lumbar evaluation to identify the correct spinal space;
2. to compare between ultrasound evaluation and needle measure of skin-epidural space depth;
3. to compare between longitudinal and transverse ultrasound epidural space depth in obese and normal parturients;
4. to check the reduction of complications and failure rates of epidural analgesia with ultrasound assistance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• all women who request epidural analgesia for labor

Exclusion Criteria:

• all women who present contraindication for epidural analgesia