Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Predicting the depth of needle insertion for paravertebral nerve blocks is currently based on patients' anthropometric characteristics, and the block level. Although preliminary studies report relationships between paravertebral depth and the body mass index (BMI), the number of observations, to date, are inadequate to formulate reliable conclusions. This study was designed to determine which factors may predict the distance between the skin and paravertebral space, for patients undergoing paravertebral nerve block procedures. ⋯ Age, weight and the thoracic level influence the depth of the paravertebral space between spinal levels T4 and T8, while only the thoracic level and body weight are implicated between T9 and T12.