Nurses’ Performance Regarding Care of Patients with Long Term Epidural Catheter

Abstract

Epidural catheter is a very fine plastic catheter that is placed through the skin into the epidural space around the spinal cord to provide a route for the administration of anesthesia and pain medications, According to National Cancer Institute statistics about 700 epidural catheters were inserted into patients in the year 2018. Epidural catheter can be used for short-term indications (hours to days) for acute pain associated with surgery, procedures, trauma, or labor, or long-term indication (weeks to months) for chronic pain, including cancer-related pain (Volk & Kubulus, 2017). Nursing role also include education about the epidural catheter, including anticipated changes in motor and sensory function; the importance of keeping follow-up appointments for reservoir filling to prevent gaps in therapy; and the associated risks and benefits. Explain the importance of immediately reporting complications, such as unexpected changes in motor or sensory function (including numbness, tingling, burning, increased pain sensitivity, bowel or bladder dysfunction, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking), fever, chills, and pruritus (Volk & Kubulus, 2017).