Postdural puncture headache and back pain after spinal anesthesia with 27-gauge Quincke and 26-gauge Atraucan needles.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the 26-gauge Atraucan needle shows any benefit on the incidence of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and back pain as compared with the 27-gauge Quincke needle.


METHODS
We investigated 388 patients, 171 men and 217 women, who were receiving spinal anesthesia for subumbilical surgery. We compared spinal anesthesia via the 27-gauge Quincke needle in 202 patients (group Q) and via the 26-gauge Atraucan needle in 186 patients (group A).


RESULTS
The incidence of PDPH was 2.97% (6 of 202) in group Q and 2.69% (5 of 186) in group A. The incidence of back pain was 4.95% (10 of 202) in group Q and 5.91% (11 of 186) in group A. There was no statistically significant association of needle type, age, or sex with the incidence of PDPH and back pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Both needles are associated with very low incidences of PDPH and back pain, which are not affected by which needle is chosen.
Department of Anesthesiology and General Intensive Care, University of Vienna General Hospital, Austria.
A M
AM
Schultz
S
S
Ulbing
A
A
Kaider
F
F
Lehofer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects*