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EPD solves patient positioning
CategoriesPatient Handling

The Use of EPD in Epidural Pain Relief

by sphmedicaladmin

An epidural is a frequent procedure used to offer pain relief or numbness during labor and childbirth and some surgeries and chronic pain. An epidural pain relief is a technique that involves injecting a medicine into the spine’s epidural space, either an anesthetic or a steroid. This technique is used to offer pain relief or a total loss of feeling in a specific area of your body, such as your legs or abdomen. It aids in blocking pain signals from the spine to the brain. The anesthetic blocks pain signals by numbing the spinal nerves. It relieves discomfort for women in labor or having a cesarean section. This anesthetic is particularly effective at blocking discomfort from labor contractions and during delivery. You can normally move and control pushing of the baby when you have an epidural.

The Epidural Positioning Device

A distinguished anesthesiologist created the first epidural positioning device about two decades ago to improve patient and staff safety. The EPD has now become the gold standard of positioning devices. The Surgery Department and the Labor and Delivery Unit benefit the most from this development.

When it comes to positioning patients safely and decreasing the risk of injury to caregivers and medical personnel, the device helps keep patients safe while also reducing the risk of injury to caregivers and medical staff. The EPD is most commonly used to position a patient for an epidural placement but is also used in other areas of the hospital to position patients.  The EPD has numerous advantages for both nursing staff and caregivers.

An epidural chair has a stable foundation. It quickly locks into place and has several adjustable features to ensure that each patient is in the best possible posture for the treatment.  The following adjustable features:

  • Height adjustability
  • Tilting Paded Face Rest Cushion
  • Foot Plate
  • Depth Adjustable Chest Cushion
  • Arm Rests
  • Locking Wheels

Why Is Proper Positioning Important for Epidural Pain Relief

The Epidural Chair improves safety by appropriately positioning and supporting a patient for a successful procedure, the first and most visible advantage.

Complication risk is reduced. There is a considerable risk of complications due to the unique and strenuous nature of patient posture during spinal blocks and epidural treatments. With this device, caregivers don’t have to rely on their body positioning to keep the patient secure.

Anesthesiologists have also used the technology for various types of spinal blocks as a result of its success in delivery aid, providing epidural pain relief during various procedures.

What is Epidural Pain Relief and What Is the Risk to The Patient?

In the past, the nurse or medical assistant was responsible for manually positioning the patient, which increased the risk of injury or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Assisting with epidural procedures is one of the known high-risk tasks for nurses. Modifying the task or implementing engineering controls to eliminate the risk is the greatest strategy to lessen the chance of injury. Your team will benefit from the positioning devices engineering control and risk reduction.

Patients benefit from an epidural positioning device because it provides a stable base. When the patient is positioned correctly, the caregiver can rely on the device rather than their body weight to keep the patient in the best posture for the treatment. These advantages significantly minimize the risk of problems during a spinal block and epidurals.

Patient Positioning Challenges

  • During epidural and spinal block placements, clinicians in the Labor and Delivery Unit, Surgery Department, and pain clinics face various demanding scenarios.
  • Holding a patient in place poses a risk to the staff’s safety.
  • Pillows stacked on non-locking tables endanger patients’ safety.
  • Patients on medication may find it challenging to maintain the correct position.
  • Keeping a stool in place while supporting a patient is a difficult task.
  • Patients may have an unanticipated reaction and try to move.
  • Patients may feel dizzy or queasy, causing them to move around.

With this Epidural assisting device, the patient is in a safe, secure, and comfortable position. It is the responsibility of hospitals and medical facilities to ensure the safety of their nurses and support staff. Providing the necessary equipment is part of the plan to keep employees injury-free. While assisting with traditional positioning methods connected with epidurals and similar procedures like spinal blocks in the OR and Thoracentesis in the imaging department, positioning devices reduce over exertion, body strain and risk of injury to nurses. It’s critical to keep nurses and hospital workers in good health to function at their best.

Epidural Chair improves Staff Safety
CategoriesPatient Handling

Epidural Pain Relief and the EPD

by sphmedicaladmin

Epidural anesthesia blocks pain sensation in a given region of the body and provides analgesia. The EPD improves safety for both staff and patients and increases and comfort for patients. An Epidural blocks impulses from lower spinal segments leading to reduced pain sensation in the lower part of the body. Most epidural pain relief medications are local anesthetics and are administered in combination with opioids like fentanyl.

How Epidural Pain Relief Works?

Local anesthetics are directed into the epidural space. EPD is mainly used during childbirth, management of chronic sciatica and back pain. Specialists will optimize the care to suit the needs of a particular patient.

The spinal cord carries electrical impulses between nerves and the brain. Therefore, injection of local anesthetics into the epidural space of the lower back blocks pain sensation on the leg and pelvic area.

Your anesthetist can assess the amount of feeling lost based on the type and concentration of the administered medications. However, before the effect wears off, you may not move your legs or hands.

The passing of urine will also be a challenge because the sensation that the bladder is full is absent. However, you will have a catheter to help you pass urine while on the epidural.

Preparing for the Procedure

The anesthetist will guide you on how to prepare for an epidural. It is contraindicated in patients with a history of blood clots or conditions affecting the lower back and nervous system. In addition, it is vital to tell the anesthetist if you are on blood thinners like clopidogrel, warfarin, and aspirin. During the process, you may remain awake, but you can also receive a sedative to help you relax.

Epidurals are effective in managing pain during labor. First, the anesthetist will request the patients to lie on their sides for proper medication administration, with their knees drawn up to their tummies and their chin tucked in. The patient can also sit on the bed while leaning forward. All these positions open up the vertebral space.

Epidural Pain Relief and Patient Safety

When it comes to the safe positioning of the patient and reducing risks of injuries to the caregivers like nurses, an epidural positioning device is vital. It reduces medical staff injuries and keeps patients safe. The device is the most widely employed in positioning for a variety of procedures.

The epidural chair is an example of a manual positioning device. It involves the medical staff placing the patient’s feet on the chair first and then inserting pillows underneath the upper body. Patients support their weight on the cushions.

The epidural chair has a solid foundation that can’t move easily. Instead, it provides an adjustable foot platform and locks into position to secure every patient for the procedure.

The device encourages lumbar, thoracic, and cervical flexion. In addition, it helps in epidural pain relief for pain during labor.

Benefits of Epidural Positioning Device

Some of the benefits associated with the device over the manual EPD include:

1. Lowers Risk of Complications

There is an increased risk of complexities because of the unique taxing nature of positioning in epidural procedures and spinal blocks. In the absence of a reliable and ergonomic solution like an epidural positioning device, health workers may have to use their bodies in positioning the patients and ensuring that they are secure.

The latter may cause physical injuries to the health care worker because the patient may become violent due to the intense pain. On the other hand, patients rely on pillows, but they voluntarily move when the pain becomes severe. Hence, compromising the process.

2. Eliminates Risk of Injury

Whether in preoperative settings, operating rooms, or other areas in the hospital, caregivers and nurses are having to manually position the patients for the epidural procedure. It involves the caregiver holding the stool, the table, and the patient using their body during the procedure.

The aim is to reduce movements from patients that may cause injuries. However, the act puts the assistant or nurse in a risky situation and may cause musculoskeletal injuries. Studies have revealed that awkward static holds carried out regularly cause musculoskeletal disorders. Nurses are the number one at risk profession for a MSDO and the EPD is a simple yet highly effective solution to reduce this risk.

The effects of an epidural pain relief wear off within two hours. You will be free of drowsiness associated with general anesthetics.

Reduce Risk Of Injury with the SPH Medical EPD
CategoriesPatient Handling

Epidural or Spinal Block

by sphmedicaladmin

Epidural Positioning Device Implementation to Improve Patient Outcomes and Healthcare Worker Safety

In the realm of anesthesia, there are many methods to help reduce a patient’s pain and suffering during operations or procedures. It takes an entire team of healthcare professionals to deliver safe and effective anesthesia that produces positive patient outcomes. One of the most common anesthesia types includes epidural anesthesia or spinal block, which is seen in the operating room and the labor and delivery room. The delivery of anesthesia in these modalities is much more technical and requires more staffing in general than general anesthesia. They need the anesthetist and supportive staff to be positioned in respect to the patient to deliver the medication effectively and safely. Patients also understand that they play a role during the anesthesia and must remain completely still during the procedure. The patient’s body habitus also plays a role in how well the patient and supporting staff can get the patient in the correct position.

Epidural anesthesia delivers medication into the area that lies above the epidural sac. Understanding the basic anatomy of the spinal cord and the vertebral column can help understand the positioning of a patient when it comes to the delivery of anesthesia. The epidural sac covers the spinal cord and creates a space where cerebrospinal fluid can nourish and cushion the spinal cord. The vertebrae that help protect the spinal cord have spinous processes that project posteriorly that protect and allow for mobility of the spine. When a patient is flexed, the spinous process angle between each other opens and exposes the spinal cord. The anesthetist can use this position to allow direct access to the Dural sac since the spinous process will be angled up and away in a flexed position.

The spinal cord and vertebral column’s anatomy and function are why epidural anesthesia requires the patient to be in a flexed-knee-to-chest position. The anesthetist will then have access to the spine to deliver the medication at the proper location safely. Often the additional staff is needed to help position the patient. The team who help position the patient can often find themselves in non-ergonomic positions to keep the patient from moving and allowing safe delivery of medication. An often-overlooked factor of patient safety and outcomes is the ergonomics of the staff that are included in procedures. Staff who must repeatedly put their bodies in awkward anatomical positions can put themselves at risk for a musculoskeletal injury. This can affect patient outcomes down the road if staff are not able to perform functions necessary for their task because of a musculoskeletal disorder.

A lot of research is being invested in staff ergonomics and safety to aid in improving patient outcomes. With respect to epidurals and similar procedures requiring patient positioning, an Epidural Positioner Device, or EPD, has been developed to provide safety to both the patient and the healthcare staff. Epidural positioning device benefits patient outcomes by allowing for safe and fast positioning of the patient. It can also be adjusted with respect to the patient’s body habitus. From the user standpoint, there are less movement and fewer complications with regards to catheter placement. The Epidural Positioner can also be used in settings that require the patient to be in a similar position, such as a Spinal Block. In a Spinal Block, the medication is administered within the Dural sac, whereas in an epidural, the medicine is administered just above the Dural sac. Both procedures require the patient to be in the same position, which allows the epidural positioning to be used in either setting.

The Epidural or Spinal Block and Thoracentesis

The Epidural Positioner has also found its way into Thoracentesis. This is a procedure where fluid from the thoracic is removed either for therapeutics or diagnostic studies. Allowing the patient to be placed in a less mobile position will enable the proceduralist to safely perform the Thoracentesis without injury to vital structures such as the lung. This device shows its promising advancement in patient outcomes when it comes to improving staff ergonomics and safety. It takes an entire medical team to take care of a patient. It is of utmost importance for any organization to seriously take the safety and health of each of its staff members.

Considering the EPD implementation, patient outcomes can be improved and allow for procedures to be carried out safely, effectively, and rapidly to help reduce negative outcomes and financial burdens to the healthcare system. In the realm of epidural or spinal block, pain and suffering can be reduced in the labor and delivery floor and in the operating suite. In diagnostic procedures like the spinal tap, a safer collection of specimens can be carried out while decreasing the risk of harming the patient during studies. In Thoracentesis, healthcare professionals can perform therapeutic procedures at a more effective and expedited timeline requiring less staff to hold the patient. Overall, the EPD or devices like it may find their way into other procedures to help decrease the risk of Musculoskeletal disorders and injuries to users and provide safe and effective healthcare.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Epidurals and Spinal Blocks

by sphmedicaladmin

Most Common Use of Epidurals

There are many times when a patient wants to be or needs to be awake during surgery. The classic case is the Caesarean section when a mother cannot have her child vaginally. She wants to see and hold her baby the moment it’s born. This procedure is possible with the use of an epidural block. By injecting numbing medication into the epidural space just above the spinal cord, the woman can have surgery and not feel pain. And she can hold her baby. The most common use of epidurals is to relieve pain during labor when combined with CBD.

In order to understand what happens in an epidural or a spinal block, you have to know a little about the anatomy of the spinal cord and the coverings of the cord, called meninges.

Anatomy

The spinal cord itself is a long rope in which the fibers are neurons. The cord gets smaller as it gets farther away from the brain. This is because the neurons leave the cord and go out to innervate various body parts.

The meninges are fibrous coverings over the cord to protect it and keep the cerebrospinal fluid inside. The CSF circulates from the brain down along the cord.

There are three layers that cover the cord. The pia mater is the one next to the cord. It is covered by the arachnoid mater, which, in turn, is enclosed by the dura mater.

The pia mater adheres to the cord tightly. It runs up into the brain, following the gyrae and sulci and carries the blood vessels that supply the cord.

Above the pia mater is an open space called the subarachnoid space. This is where the CSF is found. The arachnoid mater is the roof of the subarachnoid space. The arachnoid mater has no innervation and no blood vessels. The subdural space contains fat and the venous sinuses.

The dura mater is two layers. One forms the floor of the subdural space. The other is the lining of the bone of the spinal column, forming the roof. Between the two linings is the epidurals space.

Epidural Block and Spinal Block

Epidural Block
Unlike the subarachnoid and the subdural spaces, the epidural space extends all the way from the brain to the end of the spinal cord. Under sterile conditions, local anesthesia is injected into the skin and a needle is inserted through the skin of the back into the epidural space. A sterile catheter is placed within the space, angled down towards the patient’s feet. The needle is removed. The catheter stays in place as long as it is needed so that the patient can receive further doses of medication, if required. Epidural pain relief is highly effective.

Spinal Block
The spinal block is simpler. Under sterile conditions and local anesthesia, a needle is inserted into the subarachnoid space, where the CSF is. Medication is injected into the space and the needle is withdrawn. This is a one-time injection only.

Proper positioning of the patient is essential in either of these procedures. The needle has to be placed in a tiny space no more than 0.4 mm deep. That’s 0.015 inches. Finding that tiny space and not being off to the side at all requires the hands of an expert. Anesthesiologists generally do these procedures.

They often use an epidural positioning device or an EPD. This epidural chair holds the patient very still and in the perfect position for the procedure. An EPD helps immensely when the patient is having severe pain during labor.

Labor pain can be intense and labors can be long and hard. Many women desire the epidurals. But not everyone can be guaranteed to hold still during the catheter insertion. Injury to the meninges or even the spinal cord itself can occur if the patient moves suddenly during the procedure. Nurses have been injured as well, trying to hold women still when the labor pains hit. Using the epidural chair keeps the nurses safe and minimizes the risks to the patient.

Many Labor and Delivery units are using the EPD to help improve safety for new moms and their babies and equally as important to insure the safety of our nurses.

The EPD is used for Thoracentesis
CategoriesPatient Handling

Epidural Chair for Epidural Safety

by sphmedicaladmin

Epidural Analgesia for Pain Relief During Labor and Delivery

Epidural injections or epidural anesthesia is defined as regional anesthesia that blocks pain in a specific area of the body. To perform an epidural injection, the anesthesiologist utilizes a hollow needle to place an epidural catheter, which is a small and flexible plastic tube, into the space between the spinal column and outer membrane of the spinal cord (epidural space). This is in the middle or lower back. The area that the catheter will be placed will first receive a local anesthetic. As a result of the epidural injection, the nerve messages are blocked, which in turn causes numbness and also epidural pain relief in the lower half of the body. In terms of applications, epidural anesthesia is usually used for legs and lower belly surgeries, for helping control pain after chest and belly related major surgeries, as well as for relieving pain during labor and delivery. This is a complicated procedure so epidural safety is extremely important.

With respect to labor and delivery, a lot of women decide on having the epidural injection in order to cope with the severe pain during the whole birthing process. In this case, an epidural pump is utilized where pain relief drugs are continuously administered through the epidural tube mentioned earlier. The pain during labor is relieved as long as the drugs are being constantly pumped into the body. When the pumping is stopped, the entire feeling will come back within a few hours.

Epidural Pain Relief and Epidural Safety

In addition to epidural pain relief, the main pros for having an epidural injection during labor and delivery is being able to rest and relax, which helps a lot of women have a positive birthing experience.  Another main advantage for taking an epidural is that it helps women be more alert, which in turn allows them to take an active role during their birthing process. Last, but not least, recent research shows that epidural injections may play a role in reducing postpartum depression in a certain number of females.

With the high frequency of epidural injections occurring in during labor and delivery units across the country, it’s important to consider the manual patient handling involved in positioning patients and the safety risks for patients and nurses alike.  A device that should be considered is the epidural chair or the epidural positioning device (EPD). Patented in 2001, the epidural positioning device reduces risk of injury to nursing staff and improves patient comfort. The EPD features a 180 degrees adjustable face rest, a six position adjustable armrest allowing patients to comfortably rest their arms, an adjustable torso support to promote spinal flexion, and a height adjustable foot rest.  The EPD is not just for labor and delivery. The EPD is currently considered the standard of care by surgical staff to administer spinal blocks prior to total hip and knee surgeries. With the functional design and obvious safety benefits the SPH Medical EPD has become the standard of care wherever spinals and epidurals are performed.

From a clinical perspective, anesthesiologists are using the epidural chair permits to encourage lumbar, thoracic and cervical flexion, positioning patients in both a correct and comfortable manner and importantly a stable, safe and secure position as well. The stable positioning supported by the Epidural Chair reduced the risks of complication while the anesthesiologist places the epidural. Thanks to the EPD, nursing staff are not having to hold patients in a static position, apply counter pressure, or manually handle patients. A number of recent studies have shown that the comfort and satisfaction levels of a large number of female patients that received the epidural analgesia were significantly higher when the epidural positioning device was used.

Reduce Risk of Injury in The Labor and Delivery Unit

Healthcare workers and patients are placed at risk of injury in the labor and delivery unit when staff members are manually handling patients.  Whether it is holding, lifting, boosting or pushing the patient in a proper position, the patient not being able to change his or her position and follow the staff instructions, or even the patient being nervous, unpredictable or maybe nauseous and dizzy, positioning patients can be a very challenging task.

In point of fact, when handling patients during epidural injections, a large number of nurses are at risk of micro tears in their joints and vertebral discs that could eventually lead to injuries. Fortunately, thanks to the epidural positioning device, nurses and healthcare workers not only avoid these safety risks and challenging situations, but are also free to perform other imperative tasks.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Epidural Chair and Pain Relief

by sphmedicaladmin

The Epidural Chair, Reduce the Risk of Complications

Pain during labor is among the most common reasons that people get an epidural with over half of women in the US electing to receive epidural anesthesia. It is important to administer an epidural properly to ensure adequate pain relief and to reduce the risk of complications. Learning more about epidural pain relief and the epidural chair can help to ensure that you make an informed decision.

When an Epidural is Used

A doctor might recommend an epidural when you are in labor, for long-term pain relief for certain types of back and neck pain and to anesthetize you for certain surgical procedures. During surgery and labor, an epidural gives you continuous relief from your pain for your lower body. While you will not lose all feeling, it reduces the sensation of pain enough to keep you comfortable.

For neck or back pain, an epidural injection may be used that delivers numbing medicine and steroids to the painful area. The pain relief that you get lasts for up to a year for some people, but for others, it lasts for a few weeks. Your doctor might recommend these injections when you go through physical therapy to keep you more comfortable or instead of powerful pain medications.

Why is Proper Positioning Important?

The right position is critical for fast administration and for patient safety and comfort. Proper positioning can be especially challenging during labor since the patient’s episodic pain can make it harder for them to get into position and stay there until the epidural is complete.

When using an epidural chair or EPD, it allows the patient to naturally get into the proper position. It also gives them a structure to hold onto so that they can remain still enough for safe and proper insertion of the needle. This helps to ensure greater safety and it makes it easier to get the patient pain relief faster.

What is the Risk to the Patient?

If an epidural is not administered properly, there is the risk of injury to the patient. You could experience longer lasting tingling and numbness in your feet or legs. These effects could mean that nerve damage has occurred. For some people, these effects can last for several weeks. Should nerve damage be present, you might need further medical treatment.

Another risk is an epidural abscess affecting major nerves in the area and your spinal cord. Permanent nerve damage is possible if the infection goes untreated. In the most severe cases of an untreated epidural abscess, bodily function loss is possible.

Why Are Nurses at Risk of Injury During an Epidural?

During an epidural, nurses will help to position the patient and take care of any mobilization. This could include static holding of patients. All of these activities can stress the nurse’s body and even put them at risk for things like muscle strains. In the most severe of cases, ruptured spinal discs are possible due to abnormal twisting of the body.

How Does an Epidural Chair Benefit Nurses?

 

An Epidural Positioning Device takes a lot of stress off of the nurse’s body when preparing and helping a patient during an epidural. Nurses can adjust the EpiduralChair and once they help the patient into the proper position, they do not have to worry about static holding. All of this increases the nurse’s safety and makes everything more comfortable for the patient and the nurse.

 

Whether you have pain during labor or you are getting certain minor surgical procedure, epidural pain relief can make a big difference. To reduce discomfort during the epidural insertion, an epidural chair can make a big difference. It can also make the process go faster so that you get relief from your pain.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Epidural Pain Relief and Patient Safety

by sphmedicaladmin

Epidural Pain Relief: Positioning for maximum safety

An epidural, is often used throughout the U.S. to relieve pain during contractions and delivery without restricting the mothers’ ability to have control and strength to push the baby out. For an epidural, medicine is administered through a tube inserted by the anesthesiologist in the lower back. A mixture of anesthetics and analgesics can be included in the epidural for women who are delivering vaginally. The medicine will cause a loss of sensation in the lower extremities and the mother is still awake and alert. The epidural provides the needed pain relief for the mother to bear down to push the infant through the birth canal successfully. For women who are having a cesarean delivery, the anesthetic dose in the epidural can be increased. This type of epidural causes a loss of feeling in the lower half of the woman’s body. Epidural pain relief may also be necessary for some patients after delivery.

Why Is Proper Positioning Important For an Epidural?

The patient’s position is very important for the epidural to be administered properly, reduce the risk of side effects, and adequately reduce pain during labor. Nursing safety is also an important concern during patient positioning and epidural placement. There are two typical positions for the patient to be positioned in for optimal placement. First, there is the side lying position. In this position the patient should lay on their side in bed to allow the Doctor to access the spine. The second position is a sitting position at the edge of the bed leaning over a pillow with knees raised to create sacral curvature. The legs are typically raised by having the patient put her feet on a stool.  Medical staff will assist the patient to ensure she is in the correct position before and during the epidural block.

For maximum safety and secure positioning, the nurses can bring in an epidural chair. The epidural chair, also known as an EPD, or epidural positioning device makes it more comfortable for the patient and safer for everyone. The EPD ensures that the patients’ back is curved and they are fully supported without having to lean on a nurse! The EPD has a head rest, arm supports, a central pad that extend toward the patients chest to promote spinal flexion, and a foot plate for support. All these components are adjustable to fit the needs of each patient. Proper positioning of the body reduces the risk of error or complications when the epidural is placed.

Avoiding manual patient handling is important for nurses to remain safe during the Epidural procedure.  The EPD Solves this problem.  In the image below the nurse is supporting the patient and putting her neck back and shoulders at risk.

Stools that don’t lock can create unnecessary risks for patients and nurses.

The epidural is performed under local anesthesia using a sterile technique. When the nerves of the skin are numb from the local anesthetic, the epidural needle is inserted between the spine area of the lumbar vertebra to get to the “epidural space,” which is just outside of the spine. This space contains the spinal nerves and cerebrospinal fluid. When anesthetics are administered to this area, the pain of childbirth is reduced. Most of the time, epidural pain relief is continuous, which means the medical staff will place a soft, small catheter or tube into the epidural space with a needle. A sterile dressing is used to secure the tube to the patient’s back. This constant flow of medication is continuously administered to the patient during labor and delivery to reduce pain and discomfort.

What Are the Risks to the Patient?

Epidurals are generally safe, especially if the patient was sitting in an epidural chair to receive the medication. However, in some cases, patients can experience:

  • Nerve pain
  • Significant drop in blood pressure, which can cause nausea and lightheadedness
  • Itchy skin
  • temporary loss of bladder control
  • General sick feeling
  • Headaches

Once the epidural anesthesia begins to wear off, it is common for patients to feel numbness in their legs until the medicine has completely worn off, which can take a few hours. It is best for the patient to sit or lie down until feeling in the legs is restored. Patients will often feel tingling in their legs after the epidural is removed, but this symptom is temporary. Patients are advised not to operate machinery, consume alcohol, or drive for 24 hours after the epidural is removed.

How Does an EPD Reduce the Risk or Injury to Nurses Administering the Epidural?

An epidural positioning device not only makes medication administration more comfortable for the patient but also keeps nurses from sustaining work-related injuries, MSD’s. When a nurse has to statically hold the patient in position, support the patient or catch a falling patient, this could cause injury to the nurse. Using the EPD means that the patient is properly supported and in the ideal position every time. The EPD becomes a standard of care. Using the EPD that will position the patient comfortably so the nurse can provide effective care as efficiently as possible with the best possible outcome.

Epidurals are a safe choice for many women who want to manage the pain of labor and delivery. The procedure is recommended by Anesthesiologists for optimal pain relief.

Improve Patient and Nurse Safety with EPD
CategoriesPatient Handling

About 70 Percent of Women in Labor Choose Epidural Pain Relief

by sphmedicaladmin

Epidural Pain Relief During Labor

About 70 percent of women in labor choose epidural pain relief “Analgesia” to ease pain during labor. This procedure effectively blocks much of the pain associated with labor contractions and the birth process. Epidurals typically don’t block sensation completely, allowing the mother to push during the second stage of labor. The laboring woman remains alert and able to participate in the birth of her child but without the typical high levels of pain during labor.

What is an Epidural?

Epidural pain relief involves the injection of an anesthetic into the lower back, known as the lumbar area. The anesthesiologist will numb the area and then use a special spinal needle to access the epidural space. This is the area surrounding the spinal cord that contains arteries, veins, fat, nerve roots and fluids. The needle is placed below the termination of the spinal cord itself, all but eliminating any possibility of puncturing the cord, potentially causing paralysis. Once the doctor has reached the epidural space with the needle, a thin plastic tube called a catheter will be inserted into the space and left there. The doctor removes the needle. Medications can then be given through the catheter until the conclusion of the delivery process. Epidural pain relief is the gold standard for relieving pain during labor. When combined with leading edge solutions like CBD, CFAH reports that epidural pain relief and the CBD together work to relieve more pain than either substance working alone.

It takes anywhere from ten to 20 minutes for the epidural to take effect. There is a lapse of this time because the anesthetic must penetrate the dura, the covering of the spinal cord, before any relief is obtained. Epidurals work by blocking pain sensations from the spinal cord to the brain.

Common side effects include:

  • Itching
  • Difficulty with urination
  • Nausea and back pain
  • No feeling in the lower trunk and legs

Spinal and Saddle Block

An epidural is not the same as a spinal or a saddle block. These procedures involve a single injection of anesthetic into the fluid around the spinal cord. There is no continuous delivery of medication with a catheter. Therefore, spinals and saddle blocks only last about one to two hours.

Positioning for Epidural Pain Relief

In order for the anesthesiologist to access the epidural space, the laboring woman must lean forward over a pillow or assume the fetal position while lying down. The vertebra must be separated as much as possible. The patient must remain absolutely still, because the doctor is working in a very delicate area where serious injury is possible. The nurse must hold the woman in place and help to steady her.

This is where nurse injuries can occur. The woman may pitch forward or jerk suddenly, causing potential injury to both herself and the nursing staff. Leaning forward over a pillow is not exactly a stable position. Accidents can easily happen. An epidural chair helps prevent injuries to both the patient and the nurse and makes the whole procedure safer and easier for everyone. With the patient in the epidural chair, the doctor can work quickly and safely to place the epidural needle so relief can begin.

EPD

The epidural positioning device, EPD, rolls up to the bed and locks in place.The patient leans over the padded, horseshoe-shaped headrest and places her arms on the padded armrest and her feet on the footrest area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This position allows full flexion of the vertebra and maintains the patient in a stable position. The EPD has the following benefits:

  • No need for a static hold
  • No need to steady a stool or table that can slip
  • It speeds procedure time
  • No greater risk from larger patients

The device also addresses the problem of the medicated patient who may become dizzy without warning. A frightened or combative patient may not comply with orders to remain still while leaning over a stack of pillows.

Because the physician can work on an absolutely motionless patient, the epidural may be placed with optimum accuracy for the most anesthetic effect. The device may possibly reduce the chances of adverse side effects like excessive bleeding.

Conclusion

The epidural chair assures safety and maximum possible comfort for the nursing staff, anesthesiologist and patient during this common pain relief procedure for laboring women.

Contact SPH Medical to learn more about the EDP, also known as the Epidural Chair to improve patient and staff safety at your facility.

Epidural Chair prevents injuries
CategoriesPatient Handling

Patients Can Feel Safer With The Epidural Positioning Device

by sphmedicaladmin

The Epidural Positioning Device, Positioning Patients Safety

What commonly comes to mind when you hear the word epidural is that someone is giving childbirth, and they need an epidural to help with the pain. For a mother in labor, an epidural provides anesthesia that creates a range of numbness from the patients navel to her upper legs.  This enables the patient to be awake and alert during childbirth, while allowing the patient to feel pressure.  However, labor and delivery rooms are not the only recommended place for epidural procedures. Patients also receive epidural treatment in general surgery and as an outpatient treatment in pain management clinics. Doctors use epidural injections to relieve pain during and after surgery and to manage chronic pain. Although epidurals help with the pain, many patients may refuse them. The primary concern or risk with an epidural is the concern about what could happen if the anesthesiologist does not insert the needle correctly. With the development of the epidural positioning device by an anesthesiologist, patients can feel safer and comfortable when receiving an epidural. The Epidural Chair, as its commonly known, helps keep their body in the proper position and stable during the procedure.

Conditions Normally Treated with Epidurals

Doctors commonly use epidural steroid injections to relieve pain associated with the following:

  • Degenerative disc disease is changes that take place over time as the discs in your spine began to break down. It can affect the surrounding nerves and cause pain.
  • Disc herniation is a condition that occurs when a disk between two vertebrae slips out of place, causing the surrounding nerves to become irritated and create extreme pain.
  • Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis where the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time.
  • Radiculopathy is when the pain that travels to other parts of the body radiates from the spine caused by a spinal nerve and roots disease.

What is an epidural chair?

An epidural positioning device is an ergonomic stabilizing stand that can easily be adjusted to a patient’s body to provide them with enough support to keep them from moving during these common medical procedures. Anesthesiologists developed the EPD to position patients properly for correct placement and to reduce risk to caregivers. Before the availability of the epidural positioning device, caregivers had no choice but to position and hold patients manually, putting them at risk of a musculoskeletal disorder or other injuries. Patients were also at risk of falling off the bed or table! As the caregivers held the patients, the anesthesiologist would administer the epidural placement or spinal block and hope the patient did not move. If patients moved during the procedure, they were at risk of injury. Anesthesiologists were also at risk of being the subject of a lawsuit if something went wrong.

Benefits of the EPD:

  • Using an epidural positioner removes strain and injury risk to staff.
  • It allows the patient to be as comfortable as possible while preventing the invasion of their personal space than the traditional way caregivers positioned their patients.
  • The epidural positioner promotes bending of the neck, throat, and back area while keeping the person’s body stable.
  • The patient’s back remains immobile during epidural placement.
  • Reduces the risk of spreading infection throughout the facility.

With the epidural positioning device, caregivers can effectively position patients in operating rooms, labor and delivery suites, and other facilities where doctors perform epidurals and spinal block procedures.

Epidural Positioning Device and Thoracentesis

A more recent function of the EPD is that doctors are using it during thoracentesis procedures. Thoracentesis is the removal of excess fluid that has accumulated in the pleural space between a person’s lungs and the chest wall. The imaging department within the hospital typically sees these patients. A trained sonographer is tasked with positioning the patient and finding the correct intervertebral space to insert the needle. When preparing for the procedure, EPDs allow caregivers to position a patient to keep them stable and comfortable. Caregivers can adjust the machine to help support the patient’s chest, arm, head, and feet.

The epidural positioning device is suitable for operating rooms, labor and delivery suites, pain centers, or anywhere doctors perform epidurals. Because of the ability to adjust the device, it is ideal for patients of all body types and sizes.

EPD the Epidural Positioning Chair
CategoriesPatient Handling

Positioning Patients Safely with The Epidural Positioning Chair

by sphmedicaladmin

Positioning Patients Safely With An Epidural Chair or EPD

Are you tired of straining your back and arms? Do you have frequent musculoskeletal problems from attempting to hold patients in position? It’s time to let the Epidural Positioning Device (EPD) take the load off your neck, back, arms and wrists.

If you’re a nurse, nursing assistant, anesthesia tech, Nurse Manager in Labor and Delivery, or General Surgery this product is indispensable. It provides a secure, stable and comfortable support for patients who need an Epidural, spinal block, lumbar puncture. You might even be in the hospital imaging department holding patients in a similar position during thoracentesis. Imaging departments across the country are discovering that the Epidural Chair or EPD is a comfortable and ideal positioning device to support patients and avoid risk of injury to the ultrasound techs!

What Is an Epidural Positioning Chair?

Well, many think it’s a chair but the patient is really sitting on the bed or table. the EPD provides head, chest, arm and feet support for the patient. The EPD is a stable, portable device you can use every time you need to properly position a patient at bedside when preparing for epidural or spinal block. This occurs in many clinical environments both in and out of the hospital. For example, Epidurals are administered almost once per hour on busy labor and delivery floors. With the increase of total joint replacements we’re seeing even more spinal blocks being administered in peri-operative areas. They’re using the EPD too.

The old way of manually positioning patients is dangerous. Nurses are often asked to hold the patient in position and with heavier patients this presents an even greater risk to the nurse. You have probably tried stacking pillows, asking the patient to lean forward and arch their back. Then pushing a stool over to support their feet. You might even have your patient lean over a bedside table, but more than likely, that table has wheels that don’t lock and you’ve seen a patient more than once almost slip down to the floor! Now who is going to catch that patient? There’s a better way.

Using the Epidural Positioning Chair for Epidurals, Thoracentesis, Spinal Blocks and other pain management Treatments

Nurses, health care managers and health care facilities need a better solution, and the Epidural Positioning Chair provides it. It’s the standard of care used at leading hospitals to position patients for a variety of procedures without causing dangerous falls, sprains or injuries. It gives patients a more private, dignified way to receive a spinal block or other epidural therapy. Best of all, it makes your job as a caregiver safer.

The device is fully adjustable with a six-position armrest and 180-degree adjustable face rest. It’s easy to bring this device into operating rooms, labor and delivery rooms, pain clinics, birthing rooms, imaging departments, and physical therapy clinics. Keeping the EPD disinfected and clean is easy with disposable covers for the face rest.

Benefits of the EPD

  • Keeps patients stable by ensuring proper cervical, thoracic and lumbar flexion for stable alignment.
  • Allows you to position patients in a less intrusive, more private way.
  • Avoids injuries to health care workers.
  • Is wheeled for easy portability anywhere it’s needed.
  • Is fully adjustable to fit any patient.
  • Improves Patient Satisfaction

Thoracentesis has become a regular procedure both before during and after the COVID-19 epidemic. The epidural positioning device makes it easy to manage this predictable and frequent procedure. According to Mark E Brauner, DO Thoracentesis is generally performed with the patient sitting at the edge of the bed and leaning forward with arms resting on a bedside table. Side lying positions are reserved for those patients unable to sit. Our ultrasound techs need a safe work environment as well! The EPD provides safe support for patients who may experience syncope from a vasovagal response during thoracentesis.  Leading Pulmonologists at the City of Hope Medical Center in California are using the EPD for all Thoracentesis procedures.  The Techs and the patients love it too.

Studies on pregnant women receiving an epidural found women felt more comfortable and secure when their health care providers used a positioning device. Patient satisfaction went up substantially when compared to patient satisfaction when the women received treatment without the device.

Keeping our Healthcare Workers Safe

Back Injuries, Strains and other MSD’s are a serious concern among health care workers. According to the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), half of all nonfatal occupational injuries experienced by perioperative nurses are musculoskeletal and more than a quarter of these are back injuries.

The average preoperative room is a high-risk area that can cause many injuries to staff:

  • Shoulder, back and lower leg sprains from lifting patients.
  • Trips and falls from cords, wires and slippery floors.
  • Muscle strains from pushing around heavy equipment.
  • Leg and back strain from hours of constant motion.
  • Neck and Back injuries from frequent and predictable lateral transfers.

The EPD addresses many of these issues. It’s no wonder the device has become standard equipment in leading hospitals including Duke University Hospital, John’s Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Hospitals and VA Medical Centers.

This device is a win for everyone, and it will soon become an invaluable member of your L&D, perioperative, or Imaging team.

Please contact SPH Medical for more information or to request a quote.

If you’re ready to improve patient and staff safety this device can make an immediate and positive impact. SPH Medical is a national organization focused on Nursing and frontline caregiver safety.

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