Real-time ultrasound-guided versus landmark techniques for thoracic epidural placement in elderly patients: A randomized comparative study
Karuna Sutthibenjakul, Jatuporn Pakpirom, Pannawit Benjhawaleemart, Kwanruetai Naruanart, Sirikarn Siripruekpong, Netchanok Nokchan, Riam Kosem · 2026
Read Real-time ultrasound-guided versus landmark techniques for thoracic epidural placement in elderly patients: A randomized comparative study by Karuna Sutthibenjakul, Jatuporn Pakpirom, Pannawit Benjhawaleemart, Kwanruetai Naruanart, Sirikarn Siripruekpong, Netchanok Nokchan, Riam Kosem (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/pmc-13458654.txt.
Description
Karuna Sutthibenjakul and colleagues compare ultrasound-guided with landmark thoracic epidural placement in older adults in a 2026 randomised study. Thoracic epidurals are hard in elderly patients, whose calcified ligaments, narrow spaces and spinal curves raise failure and harm, yet real-time ultrasound evidence was limited. Seventy-six elderly patients were randomised equally to ultrasound guidance or landmark technique, with first-pass success as the primary outcome.
Overall success reached 94.7 percent with ultrasound versus 81.6 percent with landmarks, a gap that was not statistically significant. First-pass success, however, rose significantly from 26.3 to 55.3 percent with ultrasound, with fewer needle passes and skin punctures, longer preparation but similar total time. Anaesthetists gain evidence that ultrasound improves efficiency and first attempts, even if final success remains comparable.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Karuna Sutthibenjakul, Jatuporn Pakpirom, Pannawit Benjhawaleemart, Kwanruetai Naruanart, Sirikarn Siripruekpong, Netchanok Nokchan, Riam Kosem |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 36 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |