Real-Time Ultrasound-Guided Versus Ultrasound-Assisted Spinal Anesthesia in Elderly Patients With Hip Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Traditional landmark-guided spinal anesthesia can be challenging in elderly patients with hip fractures. Ultrasound assistance (USAS) and real-time ultrasound guidance (USRTG) techniques can facilitate lumbar neuraxial blocks. However, it remains undetermined which method is optimal for use in elderly patients. This study aimed to evaluate which technique was associated with a higher success rate of spinal anesthesia in elderly patients with hip fractures: USAS or USRTG technique. METHODS: A total of 114 elderly patients (≥70 years of age) with hip fractures were randomly assigned to receive spinal anesthesia using either the USAS or USRTG technique. The primary outcome was the first-attempt success rate, analyzed using the χ2 test. Secondary outcomes included first-pass success rate, the number of needle attempts and passes, locating time, procedure time, total time, adverse reactions and complications, patient satisfaction, and procedural difficulty score. RESULTS: The first-attempt success rate (80.7% vs 52.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], for the difference, 11.6-44.6) and first-pass success rate (63.2% vs 31.6%; 95% CI for the difference, 14.2-49) were both significantly higher in the USAS compared with the USRTG group (both P = .001). The number of attempts (1 [1-1] vs 1 [1-3]; P = .001) and median passes (1 vs 3; P < .001) were both significantly lower in the USAS group than in the USRTG group. The USRTG group had a shorter locating time (175 seconds [129-234 seconds] vs 315 seconds [250-390 seconds]; P < .001) but a longer procedure time (488 seconds [260-972 seconds] vs 200 seconds [127-328 seconds]; P < .001) and total time (694 seconds [421-1133 seconds] vs 540 seconds [432-641 seconds]; P = .036). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with regard to the adverse reactions and complications. More patients in the USAS group had a high satisfaction score of 3 to 5 (P = .008). Overall, anesthesiologists rated the USRTG group procedure as "more difficult" (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients with hip fractures, spinal anesthesia with the USRTG technique is not superior to the USAS technique since it has a lower success rate, longer procedure time, lower satisfaction score, and is more difficult to perform. So USAS technique may be more suitable for elderly patients.

Recognition and differentiation of dural puncture click sensation: A subjective and objective prospective study of dural puncture forces using fine-gauge spinal needles.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that the click perceived when puncturing the dura-arachnoid with fine-gauge spinal needles can be subjectively identified, and investigated whether it may be distinguishable among different needle types. METHODS: Subjective and objective evaluations were performed. First, physicians punctured the polyamide film or porcine dura mater (n = 70 and n = 20, respectively) with seven types of spinal needles and numerically evaluated the perceived click sensations. Using an 11-point numerical rating scale (from "0" for "no click sensation" to "10" for "the strongest click perceived") data, subjective differentiation among needle types was assessed. Second, in the objective part of the study, total forces elicited by polyamide film or porcine dura mater punctures with each needle were measured using a biomechanical testing device, and load-displacement curves evaluated. Third, the results of subjective and objective evaluations were compared. RESULTS: All participants recognized the click and could discriminate among needles of different tip shape. The load-displacement curves for polyamide film and porcine dura mater were similar and needle-specific. The subjective numerical rating scale values corresponded well with the objectively measured changes in total forces (R2 = 0.862 and R2 = 0.881 for polyamide film and porcine dura mater, respectively), indicating that an increase in the largest drop in total force value of 0.30 N or 0.21 N would produce an increase of numerical rating scale value of 1 for polyamide film and porcine dura mater, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We provide an objective proof of the click sensation felt upon dural puncture using different fine-gauge spinal needles. Click recognition could be used as an additional indicator of successful spinal puncture.

The association between post-dural puncture headache and needle type during spinal anaesthesia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Post-dural puncture headache is one of the most undesirable complications of spinal anaesthesia. Previous pairwise meta-analyses have either compared groups of needles or ranked individual needles based on the pooled incidence of post-dural puncture headache. These analyses have suggested both the gauge and needle tip design as risk-factors, but failed to provide an unbiased comparison of individual needles. This network meta-analysis compared the odds of post-dural puncture headache with needles of varying gauge and tip design. We searched randomised controlled trials in medical databases. The primary outcome measure of the network meta-analysis was the incidence of post-dural puncture headache. Secondary outcomes were procedural failure, backache and non-specific headache. Overall, we compared 11 different needles in 61 randomised controlled trials including a total of 14,961 participants. The probability of post-dural puncture headache and procedural failure was lowest with 26-G atraumatic needles. The 29-G cutting needle was more likely than three atraumatic needles to have the lowest odds of post-dural puncture headache, although with increased risk of procedural failure. The probability rankings were: 26 atraumatic > 27 atraumatic > 29 cutting > 24 atraumatic > 22 atraumatic > 25 atraumatic > 23 cutting > 22 cutting > 25 cutting > 27 cutting = 26 cutting for post-dural puncture headache; and 26 atraumatic > 25 cutting > 22 cutting > 24 atraumatic > 22 atraumatic > 25 atraumatic > 26 cutting > 29 cutting > 27 atraumatic = 27 cutting for procedural success. Meta-regression by type of surgical population (obstetric/non-obstetric) and participant position (sitting/lateral) did not alter these rank orders. This analysis provides an unbiased comparison of individual needles that does not support the use of simple rules when selecting the optimal needle. The 26-G atraumatic needle is most likely to enable successful insertion while avoiding post-dural puncture headache but, where this is not available, our probability rankings can help clinicians select the best of available options.

Feasibility study of a force-sensing resistor device for landmark detection for neuraxial procedures and anesthesiologists' impact on device improvement.

The standard of care for neuraxial procedures is landmark palpation to determine the site of placement. This research study aimed to test the primary feasibility of VerTouch™, a force-sensing resistor device, to identify landmarks for the initiation of neuraxial procedures. Patients were recruited at the time of labour epidural, or when consenting for spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery at a single centre. The clinical team used the device to create a pressure map image of the bony spine. If they felt confident, they used the device guide to make a mark on the patient's back. If the mark was used, total insertions and redirections, combined as passes, of the needle during the procedure were counted for secondary outcome analysis. A total of 101 parturients were recruited, and the provider felt confident making a mark based on the imaging in 96.9% of cases. Device success (completion using the mark and ≤4 total passes) occurred in 91.4% of cases. This feasibility study showed that the primary outcome, the provider using the device to make a mark, was successful. In addition, based on comparing passes with historical data, the Vertouch™ device showed promise for future use to minimise needle manipulation in neuraxial procedures.

Spinal anesthesia for cesarean section in a super morbidly obese parturient: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: The population of obese individuals is increasing worldwide, and as a result, the number of mothers with super morbid obesity undergoing cesarean sections is also increasing. However, little is known about which anesthetic technique is appropriate for cesarean sections of super morbidly obese parturients. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 35-year-old woman with body mass index 61.3 kg/m at a gestational age of 37 weeks. DIAGNOSIS: The patient was super morbidly obese parturient. INTERVENTIONS: Spinal anesthesia was performed. A spinal needle was inserted into the L4-5 interspinous space in the sitting position. After confirmation of cerebrospinal fluid, 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 9 mg and fentanyl 20 µg were injected into the subarachnoid space. OUTCOMES: After the administration of spinal anesthetics, the nerve block to the T8 dermatome level was confirmed, surgery was performed, and the fetus was delivered. The patient's vital signs were stable until the end of the operation. CONCLUSION: There is no established strategy for selecting a method of anesthesia in patients with morbid obesity (body mass index 40 kg/m or more). For this reason and considering the amount of bupivacaine used for spinal anesthesia, we wanted to share our experience with spinal anesthesia for cesarean section in a super morbidly obese parturients.

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on the Pain Intensity During Insertion of Needle in Patients Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Needle insertion pain during spinal anesthesia is an unpleasant experience for patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on the pain intensity during the insertion of spinal needles in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a double-blind clinical trial, 60 candidates for elective Trans Ureteral Lithotripsy surgery under spinal anesthesia were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The electrodes of the TENS device were placed in the space between L3-L4 and L5-S1 vertebrae. The intensity of pain during insertion of the spinal needle by Visual Analog Scale and the frequency of attempts were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the study samples was 34.26 ± 5.07 and 32.8 ± 5.28 in the control and intervention group, respectively. The pain intensity during insertion of spinal needles was less significant in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.001). The number of attempts to insert the spinal needle between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.51). The duration of spinal anesthesia implementation procedure by physician in the intervention group was significantly shorter than that of the control group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of TENS effectively reduced the pain of spinal needle insertion. Considering these beneficial effects, it is suggested that this procedure be used to relive pain in patients with spinal anesthesia.

Prospective randomized comparison of cerebrospinal fluid aspiration and conventional popping methods using 27-gauge spinal needles in patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Performing spinal anaesthesia using the conventional popping method with a 27-gauge (27G) spinal needle is technically difficult. In this study, we compared the aspiration and conventional popping method for spinal anaesthesia using 27G Quincke-type needles. METHODS: This prospective, randomized study enrolled 90 patients, aged 19 to 65 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III, who were undergoing spinal anaesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups using a computer-generated random number table: patients receiving spinal anaesthesia using the aspiration method, in which the needle is advanced with continuous aspiration, or the conventional popping method. The primary outcome measure was the success rate of the first attempt to perform dural puncture. Number of attempts and passages, withdrawal cases, successful attempt time, total procedure time, and actual depth of dural puncture were recorded. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients were included in the study. In the aspiration group, the success rate of first attempt for dural puncture was 93.3%, compared with 72.1% in the popping group (P = 0.019). Success involving needle withdrawal was recorded in 4 (8.9%) patients in the aspiration group and 13 (30.2%) in the popping group (P = 0.024). In the popping group, the number of attempts was significantly higher (P = 0.044), and total procedure time was significantly longer (P = 0.023). Actual depths of dural puncture were deeper in the popping group than in the aspiration group (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The aspiration method using a 27G Quincke-type needle offers clinical benefits for dural puncture compared with the conventional popping method for spinal anaesthesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical research information service number: KCT0002815, registered 21/Apr/2018. Retrospectively registered.

Impact of spinal needle design and approach to postdural puncture headache and spinal anesthesia failure in obstetrics.

BACKGROUND: Concern has been raised that Sprotte needles predispose to spinal anes-thesia failure. Nevertheless, these needles are associated with a low incidence of postdural puncture headache. The impact of the paramedian approach to postdural puncture headache remains controversial. The objective of this prospective randomized study was to compare Sprotte, Quincke and Atraucan needles as well as the midline and the paramedian approach in terms of postdural puncture headache and spinal anesthesia failure in patients undergoing Caesarean section. METHODS: 655 patients were randomized to 5 groups. A midline approach was used in four groups. The spinal needles were the 25G Sprotte, 27G Sprotte, 26G Atraucan and 25G Quincke. In the fifth group a 25G Quincke needle was used by the paramedian approach. RESULTS: The incidence of postdural puncture headache was 0% in both 25G and 27G Sprotte groups, 2.5% in the 26G Atraucan group, and 7.2% and 2.7% in the 25G Quincke midline and paramedian approach respectively. A significant difference in terms of postdural puncture headache was found between 25G Sprotte and 25G Quincke needles (P = 0.004), while the failure rate was similar between these two needles. A significant difference in spinal anesthesia failure rate was observed between midline and paramedian approaches (P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Sprotte but not Atraucan needle design correlates with lower incidence of postdural puncture headache compared to Quincke design. Sprotte needles are not associated with a higher spinal anesthesia failure compared to Quincke needles. The incidence of postdural puncture headache by the paramedian approach is not significantly reduced whereas the spinal anesthesia failure rate is increased in comparison to the midline approach.

Observation of single spinal anesthesia by 25G needle puncture through a lateral crypt for hip surgery in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar spine hyperosteogeny and ligament calcification are common in the elderly and anesthesia puncture through the conventional approach is difficult in this age group, and repeated puncture can increase the risk of spinal hematoma and nerve injury. This study aimed to observe the feasibility and safety of single spinal anesthesia administered with 25G needle through the lateral crypt for lower-extremity fracture surgery in elderly patients. METHODS: The subjects were 60 elderly patients in our hospital (aged 65-80 years; ASA grades I and II) scheduled for lower-extremity fracture surgery (procedure was predicted to last within 2 h) under single spinal anesthesia by different approaches through L3-4. They were randomly divided into 2 groups: in the first group, 25G needle was used in a vertical approach (group C, n=30); in the second, 25G needle was passed through the inner edge of the small joints of L3-4 to the lateral crypt (group L, n=30). After successful completion of the puncture procedure, 2.5 mL of 0.5% hyperbaric ropivacaine was used for spinal anesthesia. We then recorded the puncture times, sensory block level, and adverse reactions (e.g., headache, lumbago, and lower limb pain). RESULTS: No significant differences in onset time, sensory block level and adverse reaction were noted between the 2 groups. The puncture success rate in group L was not significantly higher and the number of attempts per puncture was not significantly less than that in group C (93.3% vs 70%) (P = .063). Nerve-root irritation was more frequent in group L than in group C but with no significant difference (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Single spinal anesthesia through the lateral crypt approach is safe and effective for lower-extremity fracture surgery in elderly patients. Thus, this approach is a feasible alternative when the conventional approach fails.

Combined spinal/caudal catheter anesthesia: extending the boundaries of regional anesthesia for complex pediatric urological surgery.

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia (SA) is an established anesthetic technique for short outpatient pediatric urological cases. To avoid general anesthesia (GA) and expand regional anesthetics to longer and more complex pediatric surgeries, the authors began a program using a combined spinal/caudal catheter (SCC) technique. STUDY DESIGN: The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients scheduled for surgery under SCC between December 2016 and April 2018 and recorded age, gender, diagnosis, procedure, conversion to GA/airway intervention, operative time, neuraxial and intravenous medications administered, complications, and outcomes. The SCC technique typically involved an initial intrathecal injection of 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine followed by placement of a caudal epidural catheter. At the discretion of the anesthesiologist, patients received 0.5 mg per kilogram of oral midazolam approximately 30 min prior to entering the operating room. One hour after the intrathecal injection, 3% chloroprocaine was administered via the caudal catheter to prolong the duration of surgical block. Intra-operative management included either continuous infusion or bolus dosing of dexmedetomidine, as needed, for patient comfort and to optimize surgical conditions. Prior to removal of caudal catheter in the post-anesthesia care unit, a supplemental bolus dose of local anesthesia was given through the catheter to provide prolonged post-operative analgesia. RESULTS: Overall, 23 children underwent attempted SCC. SA was unsuccessful in three patients, and surgery was performed under GA. The remaining 20 children all had successful SCC placement. There were 11 girls and nine boys, with a mean age of 16.5 months (3.3-43.8). Surgeries performed under SCC included seven ureteral reimplantations, two ureterocele excisions/reimplantations, two megaureter repairs, four first-stage hypospadias repairs, one distal hypospadias repair, one second-stage hypospadias repair, two feminizing genitoplasties, and one open pyeloplasty. Average length of surgery was 109 min (range 63-172 min). Pre-operative midazolam was given in 13/20 (65%). All SCC patients were spontaneously breathing room air during the operation, and there were no airway interventions. Only one SCC patient received opioids intra-operatively. There were no intra-operative or perioperative complications. DISCUSSION: This pilot study shows that the technique of SCC allows one to do more complex urologic surgery under regional anesthesia than what would be possible under pure SA alone. The main limitations of the study include the relatively small number of patients and the small median length of the operative procedures. As a proof of concept, however, this does show that complex genital surgery bladder level procedures such as ureteral reimplantation can be performed under regional anesthesia. CONCLUSION: SCC allows for more complex surgeries to be performed exclusively under regional anesthesia, thus obviating the need for airway intervention, minimizing or eliminating the use of opioids, and thus avoiding known and potential risks associated with GA. The latter is of particular importance given current concerns regarding hypothetical neurocognitive effects of GA on children aged below 3 years.

Central neurological complications following obstetric neuraxial blockade.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Central neuraxial blockade is increasingly the anaesthetic management of choice for parturients, including in higher risk pregnancies. Although they are usually effective and safe, there are potentially devastating neurological complications that may present either overtly or insidiously. A thorough understanding of the variety of potential neurological complications is essential to adequately consent patients in addition to diagnosing and managing complications following neuraxial anaesthesia. This review aims to describe a number of potential neurological injuries that may occur and suggested management based on available evidence. RECENT FINDINGS: Current evidence supports neuraxial anaesthesia as a safe management strategy in low and many higher risk pregnancies, with a low overall incidence of neurological complications. Neuraxial blockade is safe in patients with platelet counts greater than 70 000/µl and the risk of infective complications secondary to epidural catheterization remains low until day five post procedure. There is also some early evidence supporting the use of transnasal local anaesthetic as a strategy for managing postdural puncture headache. SUMMARY: Difficulty remains in establishing absolute risk of complications and optimal management strategies given the low overall number of patients affected and heterogeneity of therapy. There may be a role for centralized registration of postneuraxial complications in obstetric patients to further develop our collective understanding of these conditions.

Multicentre clinical simulation evaluation of the ISO 80369-6 neuraxial non-Luer connector.

To avoid potentially fatal wrong-route neuraxial drug errors, international standard ISO 80369-6 specifying a non-Luer neuraxial connector design was published in 2016. We describe usability studies used in development of the design. Thirty-eight doctors and 17 nurses performed simulated procedures on manikins, using devices fitted with Luer connectors or draft ISO 80369-6 'non-Luer' connectors. The procedures included spinal anaesthesia; intrathecal chemotherapy; lumbar puncture, cerebrospinal fluid collection and pressure measurement; epidural catheter placement with bolus injection and critical care use. Participants attempted cross connection between neuraxial connectors and a range of other medical device connectors, including those from the ISO 80369 small-bore connector series. Video recording analysis was used for all assessments. Participants subjectively assessed performance of the draft non-Luer connector, including suitability for routine clinical use. Participants performed 198 procedures. The connector achieved easy, leak-free connections. The willingness of participants to use the non-Luer connectors were: spinal anaesthesia 100%; intrathecal chemotherapy 88%; lumbar puncture, cerebrospinal fluid collection and pressure measurement 93%; epidural catheter placement with bolus injection 78%; critical care use 100%. Concerns raised were generally device related, rather than connector related. Most cross-connection attempts failed, even using above clinical forces and, when successful, were judged of low clinical risk potential; the exception was a malaligned connection between the non-Luer slip and female Luer connectors. This led to revision of the dimensional tolerances of the non-Luer connector to reduce this risk, before publication of the final specification in 2016. We conclude that the ISO 80369-6 neuraxial non-Luer connector is suitable for clinical use.

Postdural puncture headache: Incidence and predisposing factors in a university hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) may occur 12-72 hours after spinal anesthesia. PDPH causes patient discomfort following spinal anesthesia and therefore it presents a challenging situation for anesthetists. METHODS: This prospective randomized study enrolled 613 patients who were 18 years or older and who had been operated under spinal anesthesia. The spinal anesthesia procedure was performed with the patient in a sitting position through the L3-4, L4-5 interspaces, using 25 and 26 gauge (G) quincke and pencil-point spinal needles. The gender, age, body mass index, level of sensory block, mobilization time of the patients and also the experience and physical fatigue condition of the physicians were recorded. In the postoperative period all patients were questioned as to whether they experienced headache. These questions were repeated at postoperative 1st, 24th, 48th and 72nd hours in the hospital and on the 7th day by phone after they were discharged. RESULTS: Compared to older patients, patients between the ages of 25 to 40 (p<0.001) and compared to other operations, C/S patients (p: 0.003) experienced headaches more frequently in the postoperative period. The other two important factors were the experience (p: 0.013) and the physical fatigue of the physician (p: 0.001) on the day of surgery. CONCLUSION: The experience and good physical condition of the physician, TUR or anorectal surgery, a patient over 40 years of age and using pencil-point spinal.

Inadvertent Spinal Anesthesia During Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Nerve Block in a Patient With Nerve Root Sheath Cyst: A Case Report.

An ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral nerve block was administered for left-sided abdominal pain. Lidocaine 0.4% (9.5 mL) was injected. Spinal anesthesia developed after the injection that resolved after 3 hours. One week later, a magnetic resonance imaging scan of thoracic spine identified a left T10 nerve root sheath cyst. It was postulated that the local anesthetic was injected into the cyst, which communicated with the subarachnoid space. This case report demonstrates the anatomic variations of nerve root sheath cyst sites and the risk of injection into intranerve root sheath cysts during interventional procedures.

Resident Competency and Proficiency in Combined Spinal-Epidural Catheter Placement Is Improved Using a Computer-Enhanced Visual Learning Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Physician educators must balance the need for resident procedural education with clinical time pressures as well as patient safety and comfort. Alternative educational strategies, including e-learning tools, may be beneficial to orient novice learners to new procedures and speed proficiency. We created an e-learning tool (computer-enhanced visual learning [CEVL] neuraxial) to enhance trainee proficiency in combined spinal-epidural catheter placement in obstetric patients and performed a randomized controlled 2-center trial to test the hypothesis that use of the tool improved the initial procedure performed by the anesthesiology residents. METHODS: Anesthesiology residents completing their first obstetric anesthesiology rotation were randomized to receive online access to the neuraxial module (CEVL group) or no access (control) 2 weeks before the rotation. On the first day of the rotation, residents completed a neuraxial procedure self-confidence scale and an open-ended medical knowledge test. Blinded raters observed residents performing combined spinal-epidural catheter techniques in laboring parturients using a procedural checklist (0-49 pts); the time required to perform the procedure was recorded. The primary outcome was the duration of the procedure. RESULTS: The CEVL group had significantly shorter mean (±standard deviation) procedure time compared to the control group 22.5 ± 4.9 vs 39.5 ± 7.1 minutes (P < .001) and had higher scores on the overall performance checklist 36.4 ± 6.6 vs 28.8 ± 7.1 (P = .012). The intervention group also had higher scores on the open-ended medical knowledge test (27.83 ± 3.07 vs 22.25 ± 4.67; P = .002), but self-confidence scores were not different between groups (P = .64). CONCLUSIONS: CEVL neuraxial is a novel prerotation teaching tool that may enhance the traditional initial teaching of combined spinal-epidural procedures in obstetric anesthesiology. Future research should examine whether the use of web-based learning tools impacts long-term provider performance or patient outcomes.

Comparison of Patient Position and Midline Lumbar Neuraxial Access Via Statistical Model Registration to Ultrasound.

Patient positioning and needle puncture site are important for lumbar neuraxial anesthesia. We sought to identify optimal patient positioning and puncture sites with a novel ultrasound registration. We registered a statistical model to volumetric ultrasound data acquired from volunteers (n = 10) in three positions: (i) prone; (ii) seated with thoracic and lumbar flexion; and (iii) seated as in position ii, with a 10° dorsal tilt. We determined injection target size and penetration success by simulating lumbar injections on validated registered models. Injection window and target area sizes in seated positions were significantly larger than those in prone positions by 65% in L2-3 and 130% in L3-4; a 10° tilt had no significant effect on target sizes between seated positions. In agreement with computed tomography studies, simulated L2-3 and L3-4 injections had the highest success at the 50% and 75% midline puncture sites, respectively, measured from superior to inferior spinous process. We conclude that our registration to ultrasound technique is a potential tool for tolerable determination of puncture site success in vivo.

The Impact of Spinal Needle Selection on Postdural Puncture Headache: A Meta-Analysis and Metaregression of Randomized Studies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Potentially broadened indications for spinal anesthesia require increased understanding of the risk factors and prevention measures associated with postdural puncture headache (PDPH). This review is designed to examine the association between spinal needle characteristics and incidence of PDPH. METHODS: Meta-analysis and metaregression was performed on randomized controlled trials to determine the effect of needle design and gauge on the incidence of PDPH after controlling for patient confounders such as age, sex, and year of publication. RESULTS: Fifty-seven randomized controlled trials (n = 16416) were included in our analysis, of which 32 compared pencil-point design with cutting-needle design and 25 compared individual gauges of similar design. Pencil-point design was associated with a statistically significant reduction in incidence of PDPH (risk ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.54; P < 0.001; I = 29%) compared with cutting needles among studies that assessed both design types. Subgroup analysis among obstetric and nonobstetric procedures yielded similar results. After adjustment for significant covariates, metaregression analysis among all 57 included trials revealed a significant correlation between needle gauge and rate of PDPH among cutting needles (slope = -2.65, P < 0.001), but not pencil-point needles (slope = -0.01, P = 0.819). CONCLUSIONS: Pencil-point needles are associated with significantly lower incidence of PDPH compared with the cutting-needle design. Whereas a significant relationship was noted between needle gauge and PDPH for cutting-needle design, a similar association was not shown for pencil-point needles. Providers may consider selection of larger-caliber pencil-point needle to maximize technical proficiency without expensing increased rates of PDPH.

Spinal anaesthesia in outpatient and conventional surgery: A point of view from experienced French anaesthetists.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the practice of spinal anaesthesia among French anaesthetists in inpatient and outpatient settings. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A questionnaire was sent to members of the French Association of Anaesthetists involved in regional anaesthesia during the first 4months of 2015. The questionnaire included items on the practice of spinal anaesthesia (type of needle, local anaesthetic available, puncture and disinfection techniques, etc.) and on the anaesthetic techniques usually used in 5 surgical situations eligible for outpatient surgery (knee arthroscopy, inguinal hernia, transobturator tape, haemorrhoids, varicose veins in the lower limbs). RESULTS: Responses from 703 anaesthesiologists were analysed. Spinal anaesthesia was usually performed in a sitting position (76%) using a Whitacre needle (60%) with a 25 G (57%) diameter. Ultrasound before puncture was reported in 26% of cases due to obesity or spinal abnormalities. Among the 5 surgical situations eligible for outpatient spinal anaesthesia, the technique was typically proposed in 29-49% of cases. Bupivacaine was the most used local anaesthetic. Concerns over delays in attaining readiness for hospital discharge, urine retention, operation length, and surgeon's preference were the main reasons for choosing another anaesthetic technique in these situations. DISCUSSION: New local anaesthetics are beginning to be used for outpatient spinal anaesthesia due to their interesting pharmacodynamic profile in this context. This study will provide a basis for evaluating future changes in practice.