title: Is the pencil point spinal needle a better choice in younger patients? A comparison of 24G Sprotte with 27G Quincke needles in an unselected group of general surgical patients below 46 years of age.
abstract: Reports have indicated that there are less postoperative complaints after the use of pencil pointed spinal needles. We compared a 24G Sprotte needle with a 27G Quincke needle in a randomised study of 200 healthy patients (49% females), aged 15-46 years. Four patients (2%) reported postdural puncture headache, three with the 24G Sprotte needle and one with the 27G Quincke needle. Thirteen patients (7%) suffered with nonspecific headache, with no significant difference between the two groups. Of the 57 (29%) who reported backpain, a significantly higher proportion had received spinal anaesthesia with the Sprotte needle (OR = 2.06). There was a significantly higher incidence of insufficient blocks after dural puncture with the Sprotte needle. Ease of needle insertion and number of puncture attempts was the same for both needle types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Hammerfest Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brattebø
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wisborg
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rodt
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Røste
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects; D009407:Nerve Block; D013499:Surface Properties; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine; D002045:Bupivacaine