title: Identification of the lumbar intervertebral level using ultrasound imaging in a post-laminectomy patient.
abstract: A spinal block was performed in a post-laminectomy patient, using both ultrasound imaging and X-ray imaging. Ultrasound imaging clearly identified the L3/4 intervertebral level, the spinal canal, the corpus vertebrae, and the dura mater. Using ultrasound imaging, we measured the distance from the skin surface to the dura mater (39 mm). A 25-G needle for the spinal block was accurately advanced into the spinal canal with the use of X-ray imaging (43 mm from the skin to the subarachnoid space). We report here that ultrasound imaging was useful for performing a spinal block in a post-laminectomy patient in whom there was anatomical change around the spine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Honma
authors.forename: Mitsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mimura
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Akiyoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Namiki
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000379:methods*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007796:Laminectomy; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography