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Total spinal in an infant: can 'dry taps' occur with 20G Tuohy needles?
Christer Jonmarker1, Jonathan C Rowell, Olof Jonmarker
1Department 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
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.
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.
