Identification of inadvertent intravenous placement of an epidural catheter in obstetric anesthesia

These two cases suggest that the previously proposed test dose (12.5 mg of bupivacaine plus 12.5 μg of epinephrine in 10 ml of physiologicas saline) is effective in detecting accidental iv location of an epidural catheter in the clinical setting of a pregnant patient undergoing epidural analgesia. Furthermore, our experience during the second case suggests that removal of the bacterial filter before aspirating might make the aspiration test more reliable.