There were no significant differences between patients in the 2 groups with respect to cases with bloody fluid in the epidural needle during catheter insertion ( 7.6 % vs 9.8 % , P = .44 ) , the epidural catheter during catheter placement ( 6.0 % vs 6.7 % , P = .80 ) , aspiration of frank blood in the epidural catheter ( 1.0 % vs 1.0 % , P = .98 ) , and blood noted in the caudal end of the epidural catheter upon removal ( 27.3 % vs 30.4 % ; P > .49 ) .