Search

Dura-arachnoid puncture for spinal anesthesia is associated with several complications. Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and needle bending are significant among these. The incidence of PDPH has been reduced significantly with the advent of pencil-point needles. However, these needles also have their limitations, such as obstruction of the delivery port by tissues affecting both cerebrospinal fluid flash back and drug delivery. Increasing the size of the lateral hole has led to mechanical complications, such as tip bending. A new spreading beveled spinal needle tip has been designed to overcome the disadvantages of all the currently used spinal needles. To assess the feasibility, a 26-gauge Quincke spinal needle (B. Braun, Melsungen, Germany) has been modified manually. The new tip-holed design seems to be sound both from theoretical and practical point of view. Searching Medline Plus through their Internet Web site (www.nlm.nih.com) did not reveal the existence of any such spinal needle.

Background and Objectives Previous studies have shown the vulnerability of the tips of cutting type thin spinal needles and the possibility of foreign material passing into the subarachnoid space during the lumbar puncture. We made a microscopic analysis to compare two commonly used noncutting pencil-point spinal needles with different tip designs. Needles with a cutting tip design were included as reference. Methods Four fresh cadavers were placed in the lateral position and their backs were scrubbed with disinfectant solution containing 0.1% fluorescein. Thirty-two spinal needles (27 gauge) of each type (modified Quincke, modified Sprotte, and modified Whitacre) were inserted through an introducer at interspaces L2-5 into the subarachnoid space. Under visual control (spinal canal opened ventrally) all the needle tips were cut after successful subarachnoid puncture; 16 needles of each tip design were investigated under a fluorescence microscope, and another 16 needle tips were collected into test tubes and cytocentrifuged smears were prepared. The tips and smears with the most obvious findings were photographed under a microscope. Results On microscopy, only 2 needle tips were damaged (1 modified Quincke and 1 modified Whitacre). Visible fluorescent tissue particles were more frequently seen on modified Quincke needles (56%) compared with modified Sprotte (37%) and Whitacre (37%) needles (NS). In the cytocentrifugation smears, the largest clusters of epithelioid cells and muscle fibers were observed in the Quincke group. In the Whitacre group many fewer and smaller cell clusters including small muscle particles were seen, and only minor epithelioid cells were found in the Sprotte group. Conclusions Tissue coring seems to be a common phenomenon during lumbar puncture. The most prominent attachments appeared with a cutting Quincke-type spinal needle.

Background and Objectives. This prospective, randomized, double-blind study compares the efficacy of two spinal needles in terms of their performance characteristics and associated perioperative complaints in young patients. Methods. ASA I and II patients aged from 20 to 40 years undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgery were included during a 12-month period. After application of the protocol, 158 patients were recruited. The patients were randomized to two groups: group I: 26-gauge Atraucan (n = 79) and Group II: 27-gauge Whitacre (n = 79). A study was made of the demographic parameters, technical characteristics, and peri- and postoperative complications. Results. No significant differences were found in the technical handling of the needles, number of attempts made to achieve the puncture, or the time required to perform the technique. No technical failures (spinal anesthesia inadequate for the planned surgery) were reported, and the frequency of complications during the procedure was identical in both groups. Frequency of postdural puncture headache (3.8%) or severity and duration showed no difference between the two groups. The overall assessment of postoperative complications revealed similar scores for both needles. Conclusions. Technical handling (ease with which block was performed) of the needles analyzed was extremely easy, showing a high success rate which associated with the similar incidence of complications. Type of bevel does not appear to be a determining factor in the quality or morbidity associated with subarachnoid block when fine-gauge needles are used in young patients.

Background and Objectives. We sought to determine if spinal anesthesia is more difficult to perform in the elderly. Methods. All spinal anesthetics administered over 18 months by 18 anesthesiologists were eligible. We excluded anesthetics for hip fractures and cesarean deliveries. We recorded time to completion, number of spinal needles used, and number of approaches. The patients were prospectively divided into three age categories: patients 70 years of age (group 3). Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were performed. Results. Nine hundred and ninety-nine anesthetics were analyzed. There were 368, 336, and 295 entries in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Although the mean ± SD (in min) times to accomplish the spinal technique were not significantly different (4.3 ± 4.1, 4.4 ± 3.2, and 4.6 ± 3.4 for groups 1, 2, and 3), there was a statistically greater frequency of more than one spinal needle used and more than one approach needed in the elderly. Conclusions. We conclude that patient age is a minor independent predictor of increased technical difficulty with spinal anesthesia.

Background and Objectives The use of thin single-hole pencil-point (SHPP) spinal needles may be a reason for subarachnoid maldistribution of local anesthetic. A new double-hole pencil-point (DHPP) needle may be preferable because of a theoretic more uniform initial distribution of local anesthetic. Methods This was a prospective, double-blinded study of 50 patients randomly selected to have spinal anesthesia using either single-hole 27-gauge (B. Braun, Melsungen, Germany) or double-hole 26-gauge (A.L.B. Medical Inc., U.S.A.) pencil-point needles. The former were inserted with the side port directed caudally and the latter with openings in both caudal and cranial direction. Two milliliters of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine were injected in 1 minute, and sensory and motor block were studied at regular intervals during spinal anesthesia. All patients were interviewed on the first (personal) and the seventh (mailed questionnaire) postoperative day. Furthermore, microscopic inspection of the spinal needles was performed. Results There were no statistically significant differences in sensory or motor block levels between the two needle types at any time during spinal anesthesia. Likewise, there was no difference in the duration of spinal block. The postanesthetic side effects (headache, backache, pricking, numbness, weakness) were similar in both groups. Light and electron microscopic examination showed resistance of the SHPP needles to tip damage. On the other hand, the DHPP needle tips seemed to be distorted quite frequently, and, even in unused needles, the tip was blunt and asymmetric. Conclusion There was no difference between the spread of analgesia using either SHPP or DHPP spinal needles. The DHPP needles appear to be vulnerable to tip damage from mechanical contact.