In this video I help you understand the relationship of the needle, catheter and epidural space. RU-vid does not support the quiz function of this video. I apologize.
It depends on hospital policy and the setting for which the catheter has been placed (OB ward versus post-op pain management) There are lots of factors which dictate this. (Available resources to monitor it, patient comfort, adverse risks of infusing medication through it and risks to patients being able to start rehab or ambulate etc..) The easiest answer is, its removed once pain is reasonable controlled and the patient is tolerating oral pain medicine or no medicine at all.
