Is tissue coring a real problem after caudal injection in children.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine whether tissue coring occurs with 22-G hollow needle and 22-G caudal block needle during caudal injection in children, as well as evaluating the nature of the coring material if it did occur.


METHODS
Seventy children were randomly allocated to two groups and caudal block was performed with either 22-G hollow (group I) or 22-G caudal block (group II) needle under general anesthesia. The needles and guides were washed with 0.5 ml of 70% ethanol in a sterile tube and were evaluated by a pathologist blinded to the type of needle used, for the type and number of cells.


RESULTS
Nucleated cells, which have no mitotic activity, were present in 8.5% in each study group and bloody material was present in 8.5 and 2.8%, in group I and II, respectively. Non-nucleated epidermal cells were detected in 94.2 and 97.1% of the patients in group I and II, respectively. However, cells with mitotic activity from the stratum basale were not detected in any slides.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of transporting nucleated epidermal cells with no mitotic activity from stratum spinosum during puncture for caudal block is low and no differences exist between different types of needle used. However, it may also suggest that transporting nucleated cells with mitotic activity from the stratum basale may be possible during caudal puncture.
Department of Anaesthesiology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. sbaris@omu.edu.tr
Sibel
S
Baris
Fuat
F
Guldogus
Yakup Sancar
YS
Baris
Deniz
D
Karakaya
Ebru
E
Kelsaka
D000763:Anesthesia, Caudal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D009609:Nitrous Oxide