title: A comparative multicentre trial of spinal needles for caesarean section.
abstract: We studied 681 patients in a randomised, multicentre, double-blind, parallel group trial designed to assess the incidence of headache following spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section using four different pencil point spinal needles. The needles used were: Whitacre 25G (n = 170), Polymedic 25G (n = 170), Sprotte 24G (n = 173) and Polymedic 24G (n = 168). The incidence of all headaches prior to discharge was 11.1%. Only five headaches (0.75%) were severe with features of post dural puncture headache (PDPH) and required an epidural blood patch: Whitacre 25G = 0, Polymedic 25G = 1 (0.6%), Sprotte 24G = 2 (1.2%), Polymedic 24G = 2 (1.2%). There was no statistically significant difference between the four groups for PDPH. We conclude that all four needles studied performed satisfactorily and comparably.
authors.affiliation: Hope Hospital, Salford, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hopkinson
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Samaan
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Birks
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Patrick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D011247:Pregnancy