Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · May 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialReal-time ultrasound guided spinal anesthesia in patients with predicted difficult anatomy.
There are limited reports of lumbar neuraxial blocks using real-time US in patients with predicted difficulties. We compared the number of attempts to perform spinal anesthesia using real-time US guidance versus landmark technique in patients meeting predefined criteria for difficult spinal anesthesia. We also compared procedure time, block success, patient satisfaction and difficulty scores between groups. ⋯ This trial suggests that real-time US guidance for spinal anesthesia in challenging patients in comparison to the controlled group was completed in longer time, with lower needle insertion attempts, and higher patient satisfaction scores but without statistically significant differences.