Table 1 Factors effecting epidural failure at 48 and 96 hours

Gender

Male

347

39.4

25.6

0.82 (0.60-1.11)

0.21

37.5

1.33 (1.00-1.77)

0.06

Female

534

60.6

29.6

31.1

Age

≤65

420

48.5

30.7

1.42 (1.05-1.92)

0.02

38.6

1.54 (1.16-2.05)

<0.01

>65

446

51.5

23.8

28.9

Surgical specialty

Colorectal

389

44.3

28.0

1.11 (0.82-1.50)

0.49

34.4

1.10 (0.83-1.14)

0.52

Upper gastrointestinal

183

20.8

20.2

0.71 (0.48-1.04)

0.07

28.8

0.77 (0.54-1.11)

0.16

Urology

161

18.3

26.1

0.95 (0.64-1.40)

0.78

34.2

1.05 (0.73-1.51)

0.78

Vascular

73

8.3

31.5

1.30 (0.77-2.19)

0.32

36.1

1.17 (0.71-1.94)

0.59

Gynaecology

67

7.6

34.3

1.50 (0.88-2.55)

0.14

34.8

1.08 (0.64-1.83)

0.77

Level of incision

Above umbilicus

250

28.4

21.3

0.65 (0.46-0.92)

0.02

29.9

0.79 (0.57-1.08)

0.15

Below umbilicus

210

23.8

33.0

1.45 (1.03-2.03)

0.03

36.4

1.17 (0.85-1.63)

0.34

Both

421

47.7

27.2

1.06 (0.78-1.42)

0.72

34.4

1.07 (0.81-1.42)

0.63

Seniority of anaesthetist

Consultant

670

77.2

25.6

0.73 (0.51-1.03)

0.07

31.7

0.68 (0.49-0.95)

0.03

Locum

72

8.3

36.6

1.60 (0.96-2.65)

0.07

47.9

1.92 (1.18-3.13)

0.01

Trainee

71

8.2

27.1

1.00 (0.58-1.74)

0.99

37.1

1.18 (0.71-1.96)

0.52

Specialty doctor

55

6.3

32.7

1.33 (0.74-2.39)

0.33

34.5

1.09 (0.61-1.93)

0.77