• U Jost, M Hirschauer, E Weinig, C Dörsing, and C Jahr.
• Zentrum für Anästhesiologie, Caritas-Krankenhaus, Bad Mergentheim.
• Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. 2000 Jun 1;35(6):381-7.

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of side-effects in patients bearing a high risk of post dural puncture headache (PDPH) when a spinal anaesthesia was performed. This included outpatients, patients for sectio caesarea and patients younger than 40 years who were mobilized as soon as the surgeon agreed.MethodsQuality control without randomization. Spinal anaesthesia for sectio caesarea was applied with a G27 Whitacre needle with the patient in the right lateral decubitus position. Hyperbaric Bupivacain 2-2.2 ml (10-12 mg) was injected when spontaneous flow of spinal fluid occurred through the needle. The preparations for the surgery then started immediately with the patient in a left lateral position. Intravenous Ephedrin (10-20 mg) was given simultaneously. All the other spinal anaesthesias were performed in a similar manner with the patient lying on the side of the scheduled surgery. For outpatients Articain was used instead of Bupivacain. In those outpatients older than 60 years a 26 G Quincke needle was used for spinal anaesthesia. Interviews: All in-hospital patients were visited once or more during the first 48 hours and asked about side-effects e.g. PDPH. Outpatients older than 60 years were interviewed by a telephone call on the third day after surgery. The younger ones were asked to send back a questionnaire free of charge.ResultsNone of the 206 patients (mean age 30.7 years) who underwent caesarian sectio suffered from headache. Lower back pain was seldom [8] and moderate. They all had the bladder drained as a routine measure of the obstetrician. 547 of 600 in hospital patients were mobilized as soon as the block disappeared. 11 complained of headache. (1.8%) 2 females needed oral non-opioid analgesics, one 17-year-old woman an epidural blood patch (0.17%). 150 of the outpatients younger than 60 years sent back the questionnaire spontaneously. 75 had to be reminded by a telephone call. 10 of these 225 had PDPH but only 2 females needed oral non-opioids for one day. One 34-year-old woman needed conservative treatment with oral fluid intake more than 3 liters a day, analgesics and bed rest. None of the outpatients older than 60 years complained of headache. Two suffered from vomiting on the way home. Three males had disturbed bladder function, but did not need catheterism.ConclusionsThe use of a thin pencil point needle (Whitacre G27) enables the application of a spinal anaesthesia to young people with a low risk of moderate PDPH. Pregnancy is not a contraindication. Early mobilisation does not increase the risk of PDPH even in young patients nor is this the case in outpatients. In outpatients older than 60 years a G26 Quinke needle, which is easier to handle and cheaper, is suitable for spinal anaesthesia without a risk of PDPH. Better post-operative vigilance may be a further benefit of the method. Young people especially appreciated the option to pursue their own video-endoscopic surgery. In a comparable group where an epidural was performed we found more side-effects.

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