Detection of Intravascular Penetration During Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Block: a Comparison of Digital Subtraction Angiography and Real Time Fluoroscopy

Transforaminal epidural block (TFEB) with local anesthetics and steroid is effective to treat spinal radicular pain. However, inadvertent intravascular injection can lead to severe neurologic complications. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) during epidural block might increase the detection rate of intravascular penetration, compared to real-time fluoroscopy (RTF). But, DSA has disadvantages, such as additional radiation exposure to physicians and participants and the high cost of the new and upgraded fluoroscopic equipment. In this study, it was designed to compare DSA and RTF for detection of intravascular penetration in the same participant who underwent cervical TFEB.

The investigators prospectively examined the participants who received cervical TFEB. The needle position was confirmed using biplanar fluoroscopy and 2 ml of nonionic contrast media was injected at the rate of 0.5 ml/sec under RTF. Thirty seconds later, 2 ml of nonionic contrast media was injected at the rate of 0.5 ml/sec under DSA.