A study on differences between the distance from the skin to the thoracic epidural space and from the skin to the thoracic cavity in CT images - Differences between the distance from the skin to the thoracic epidural space and from the skin to the thoracic cavity in CT images

Because the distance from the skin to the thoracic cavity on the puncture side was nearly the same as the distance from the skin to the epidural space in the paramedian approach, it has become clear that even when puncture for thoracic epidural anesthesia is performed at an angle for the paramedian approach, the needle might actually be inserted by accident at an angle similar to that for the median approach due to inadequate body positioning and spinal deformation, resulting in an increased risk of accidental perforation of the ipsilateral thoracic cavity.