results the rate of first-time successful spinal needle insertion was not significantly different between the clsp and tsp groups (62.9% versus 55.7%, p > 0.05). ease of landmark palpation in the clsp group was not significantly different from that in the tsp group (86.7% versus 76.4%, p > 0.05). the number of needle-bone contacts in both groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05). the ...

To characterize spinal cord effects of needle placement using lumbar puncture myelography technique, lumbar puncture was performed in 5 dogs and computed tomography images of the spinal column were acquired in the transverse plane at the level of the puncture site after contrast injection and both before and after needle removal. The spinal cords were punctured during needle placement and paren...

conclusions there is clinical utility in knowing the relative deflection of various needle tips. when a procedure requires a needle to be steered around obstacles, or along non-collinear targets, the predictable and large amount of deflection obtained through use of a beveled spinal needle may prove beneficial. materials and methods six needles commonly used in spinal procedures (quincke, short...

BACKGROUND The patient's position during spinal anesthesia administration plays a major role in the success of spinal needle insertion into the subarachnoid space. The traditional sitting position (TSP) is the standard position for spinal anesthesia administration, but the success rate for spinal anesthesia administration in the TSP is still quite low. The crossed-leg sitting position (CLSP) is...

The combined spinal-epidural technique has been used increasingly over the last decade. Combined spinal-epidural may achieve rapid onset, profound regional blockade with the facility to modify or prolong the block. A variety of techniques and devices have been proposed. The technique cannot be considered simply as an isolated spinal block followed by an isolated epidural block as combining the ...

R egional anesthetic procedures are significantly more difficult to learn than basic manual skills that are necessary for a general anesthetic. Currently, no studies have been done to determine whether there is enhanced learning by measuring the difference in the number of successful spinal placement attempts, the time it takes to place the spinal needle, and the time when proficiency is reache...

We present two patients both of whom had severe morbid obesity and needed placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) for albumin and visceral protein replenishment. The first patient was a 53-year-old woman (body mass index [BMI], 85.8; weight, 191kg) who presented with respiratory distress and dysphagia; the second was a 26-year-old woman (BMI, 88.6; weight, 259kg) who presented ...

Introduction It is sometimes difficult for some patients to optimally flex their hips and knees making traditional position for induction of spinal anaesthesia difficult to achieve. The ease of induction of spinal anaesthesia was compared with patients in sitting position with legs remaining on the table (new sitting method) versus legs placed on the side stool (traditional sitting method). M...

Normal saline or air is used to identify loss of resistance during identification of the epidural space for combined spinal-epidural analgesia. Following epidural needle placement using air for loss of resistance, up to 80% of parturients move, grimace, vocalise or experience paraesthesia or dysaesthesia during subsequent dural puncture by a spinal needle. We compared the effects of saline vers...