• Ucarli Gulay, Turkay Meltem, Sinikoglu Sitki Nadir, and Alagol Aysin.
• Ucarli Gulay, Medical Doctor, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ardahan State Hospital, Turkey.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2015 Jan 1;31(1):76-81.

Background And ObjectiveThe aim was to compare visibility of the spinal space in sitting and lateral positions, number of attempts, spinal needle depth, skin-dura mater distance and the possible complications; in application of spinal anesthesia, using ultrasound in pregnant patients scheduled to receive elective cesarean operations.MethodsThe study was conducted prospective-randomly after receiving approval from the ethics committee and the patients' permission. ASA I-II 50 pregnant patients were divided into two groups. The patients in Group SP were those placed in a sitting position and the patients in Group LP were those placed in a lateral position. In both groups, the skin-dura mater distance was recorded through an out-of plane technique accompanied by ultrasound. The depth of the spinal needle was measured. The number of attempts, the level of attempts recorded. The degree of visibility of the vertebral space was observed through ultrasound and was numerically scored. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.ResultsThere was no difference between the number of attempts, Modified Bromage Scale and mean measurements of skin-dura mater distance observed through ultrasound. The mean needle depths of Group LP were statistically found significantly higher than Group SP (p=0.002).ConclusionOur study supports the notion that access to the skin-dura mater distance is longer in the lateral decubitus position when skin-dura mater distance is evaluated by measuring needle depth.

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