Evaluation of Sagittal Abdominal Diameter as a Predictor of the Skin to Epidural Space Distance in Obese Patients

This observational study is assessing whether the sagittal abdominal diameter (the front-to-back measurement of the abdomen while lying flat) can help predict how deep the epidural space is in obese patients needing epidural anesthesia for surgery. Accurate prediction of this depth can make the procedure safer and more precise. You may be eligible if you are 18 or older, have a BMI between 30 and 39.9, and are scheduled for lower abdominal or lower extremity surgery under epidural anesthesia; pregnant women are excluded. Participation involves a simple abdominal measurement before your scheduled epidural procedure, with the depth to the epidural space recorded during the procedure itself. This summary was prepared using AI to help patients understand this research.