title: Total spinal in an infant: can 'dry taps' occur with 20G Tuohy needles?
abstract: The loss-of-resistance technique was used to place a 20G epidural needle in the lumbar region in an anesthetized and paralyzed infant. There was no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and a 24G catheter was inserted through the needle. At end of surgery, when the patient was breathing spontaneously and a bupivacaine bolus was given through the catheter, a total spinal block was identified. A bench test demonstrated that CSF leakage from a 20G needle can be delayed if CSF pressure is low and if air bubbles are present in the needle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center and the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. christer.jonmarker@seattlechildrens.org
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jonmarker
authors.forename: Jonathan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rowell
authors.forename: Olof
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jonmarker
mesh_terms: D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013129:Spinal Puncture