The animal is turned on its side and the various approaches to lumbar, thoracic and cervical epidural techniques are demonstrated. These include loss of resistance to air and saline techniques for medial and paramedian approaches to the epidural space. Participants get the chance to practice these techniques until they feel completely comfortable with the different techniques and approaches and with the different makes of epidural needles and catheters. The epidural kits of all the major manufacturers are available but participants are encouraged to practice with the specific material available in their working environments. Certain recommendations are, however, made where applicable. The various equipment manufacturers typically supply the sets that they are keen for students of RA to use and they typically contribute financially to the program. Combined epidural/spinal techniques are also demonstrated and practiced as well as the caudal approach to the epidural space. Although it is possible to demonstrate the latter two techniques on the pig, it is not really appropriate, since the spinal cord of the pig reaches all the way down to the sacral level. Nerve stimulator techniques via saline filled catheters and the “Johans connector” are also used to identify correct catheter placement of the epidural catheter if the participants want to gain experience with these techniques or just want to see how it works.

The epidural catheter: