results first needle placement without imaging resulted in blood return in 1/199 participants and positive epidurography in 179/199 (90%). minimal needle repositioning resulted in a positive epidurogram in the remaining 19 attempts. no intravascular injection patterns were observed. conclusions this compares favorably to published success rates of fluoroscopically-guided technique and was well ...

Nusinersen (ISIS-SMNRx or ISIS 396443) is an antisense oligonucleotide drug administered intrathecally to treat spinal muscular atrophy. We summarize lumbar puncture experience in children with spinal muscular atrophy during a phase 1 open-label study of nusinersen and its extension. During the studies, 73 lumbar punctures were performed in 28 patients 2 to 14 years of age with type 2/3 spinal ...

BACKGROUND According to different algorithms of airway management, emergency cricothyrotomy is the final step in managing the otherwise inaccessible airway. As an alternative to an open surgical procedure, minimally invasive approaches exist. Various sets for different methods are commercially available. QuickTrach™ (VBM Medizintechnik GmbH, Sulz am Neckar, Germany) contains a plastic cannula o...

INTRODUCTION To assess the effect of a hands-on ultrasound training session to teach urologic trainees ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) urology residentes completed a time trial, placing a needle into a phantom model target under ultrasound guidance. Participants were randomized into three educational exposur...

I read the recent article by Garg,(1) in which the author described the use of a spinal needle stylet to replace a faulty intravenous cannula. The technique is useful; however, there are some concerns. We have tried the stylet of a 26-G spinal needle for the exchange of a 24-G cannula in ten paediatric patients and have the following observations to make. The exchange was successful in only one...

BACKGROUND The incidence of transient neurologic symptoms (TNS) after spinal anesthesia with lidocaine is reported as high as 40%. OBJECTIVES This prospective clinical trial was designed to determine the incidence of TNS in patients who underwent spinal anesthesia with two different needles, in two different surgical positions. PATIENTS AND METHODS The present randomized clinical trial was ...

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...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Even in experienced hands, blind epidural steroid injections result in inaccurate needle placement in up to 30% of cases. The use of fluoroscopy and radiologic contrast material provides confirmation of accurate needle placement within the epidural space. We describe our technique and experience with contrast epidurography and therapeutic epidural steroid injections, and ...