ABSTRACT : A comparison of Subcutaneous Tunnelling versus Device fixation technique.

METHODS : - 200 patients who required postoperative epidural analgesia were included. They were randomised into two groups- group I (n=100) epidural catheters were tunnelled vertically in the paravertebral subcutaneous tissue and group II ( n=100) lock-it device was used to fix the catheter. The techniques were compared for migration, catheter dislodgement, trauma to local tissues, catheter snapping, catheter obstruction and inadequacy of analgesia which can be attributed to catheter migration.

RESULTS : - 12% of tunnelled catheters moved out by 1-3cm from their initial fixation mark during the postoperative period. Erythma 22% and patient discomfort 77% were also significant in this group. group II patients had 3% incidence of a catheter kink below the adhesive plaster.

CONCLUSIONS : Our results support the use of lock-it device as a safe and comfortable fixation device .The incidence of catheter migration is negligible.