Evaluation of 25-gauge Quincke and 24-gauge Gertie Marx needles for spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the insertion characteristics and rate of complications between 25-gauge Quincke and 24-gauge Gertie Marx needles.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized study.


METHODS
University of Benin Teaching Hospital; a university-affiliated tertiary centre.


METHODS
Parturients (ASA 1 and 2) scheduled for elective caesarean section. They were randomly assigned to receive spinal anaesthesia with either 25-gauge Quincke needle or 24-gauge Gertie Marx needle. The patients with abnormal spaces, coagulopathy, infection, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia or obesity were excluded.


METHODS
The number of attempts at successful identification of the spinal space, intraoperative complications, incidence of postdural puncture headache (PDPH), non-postdural puncture headache (NPDPH) and backache.


RESULTS
Sixty women were studied. The 24-gauge Gertie Marx needle resulted in more successful location of the spinal space on the second attempt (P<0.05). Non-postdural puncture headache was seen in 43% of the study population. PDPH was seen in 10% of the Quincke group and none in the Gertie Marx group. There was no difference in the incidence of backache in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The ease of insertion and low incidence of PDPH with the Gertie Marx needle may encourage trainee anaesthetists to use this needle for caesarean section.
Imarengiaye
C O
CO
Mount Sinai Hospital/University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Edomwonyi
N P
NP
D000328:Adult; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D009325:Nausea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology