Guidance
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on ultrasound-guided catheterisation of the epidural space.
Description
The epidural space is surrounding the spinal cord, inside the spinal column. Epidural space catheterisation through the middle or lower back is usually performed as part of anaesthetic techniques, in order to inject analgesic drugs. A needle is inserted into the interspinous ligament and advanced very slowly until there is no longer any resistance to the injection of air or saline, indicating that the tip of the needle is in the epidural space. However, there are at times technical difficulties in achieving this. Ultrasound imaging may be used to help identify the epidural space.
Coding and clinical classification codes for this guidance.