THE IDEAL SPINAL NEEDLE

Eldor spinal needle versus Pencan spinal needle.

The Infiniti Plus ultrasound needle guidance system improves needle visualization during the placement of spinal anesthesia

popularity over the last two decades [1]. This new application of technology also facilitates spinal anesthesia in patients with challenging anatomy, such as those with scoliosis or obesity, or elderly patients [2,3]. Infiniti Plus (CIVCO Medical Solutions, Kalona, IA, USA) is a needle-guidance system that was recently developed to assist clinicians in performing ultrasound-guided nerve blocks....

The effect of Pencan needle orientation on spinal anesthesia outcomes.

Slow resolution of block and incidence of side effects deter many practitioners from choosing spinal anesthesia for out-patient surgical procedures. Some studies suggest that controlling bevel or side port orientation of a spinal needle during anesthetic injection can affect occurrence of side effects and time to block resolution. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of vary...

Percutaneous core needle biopsies: the yield in spinal tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND Current recommendations for spinal tuberculosis (TB) not requiring open surgery include core needle biopsy to confirm TB and determine drug sensitivity. International figures show the positive culture yield from core needle biopsies is 50 -- 83%.Objectives. To (i) assess the yield of percutaneous needle biopsies; (ii) identify factors that may lead to a negative result; and (iii) det...

Fine needle aspiration biopsy, core needle biopsy or excision biopsy to diagnose breast cancer - which is the ideal method?

BACKGROUND The ideal method for diagnosis of breast cancer is debatable. METHODS The methods of diagnosis of 436 new cases of breast adenocarcinoma presenting from Jan 2005 till Dec 2006 at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) were examined in this study. RESULTS A total of 388 cases presented to the breast unit in UMMC primarily and 48 cases were diagnosed in non-breast units in oth...