title: Particulate contamination in spinal analgesia.
abstract: A microscopic investigation was undertaken to quantify the amount of particulate contamination in the injectates of bupivacaine 0.5% in spinal analgesia. No differences were found between samples prepared with either a glass syringe or a disposable plastic syringe, nor could differences be documented between groups where atraumatic opening of vials, perforation of vial stoppers or opening of glass ampoules was performed. The use of commercially available bacterial filters was followed by a significant increase in the amount of particulate contamination, probably filter debris. The clinical use of such filters in spinal analgesia is therefore questionable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Haderslev Sygehus, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eriksen
mesh_terms: D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D002045:Bupivacaine; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008851:Micropore Filters
chemical_list: D002045:Bupivacaine