Anaesthesia
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Combined epidural/spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section. Through the needle or in separate spaces?
An evaluation of a 30 gauge spinal needle in a combined epidural/spinal anaesthetic technique for Caesarean section revealed a 25% failure rate of the spinal element. In this unit, no more than 4% of spinal anaesthetics might be expected to fail. One of the reasons for the higher failure rate was that, when using the Tuohy needle as an introducer, the dura was not identified. ⋯ One hundred women requiring elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomised into single or double space groups. The technique failed in 16% of through-the-needle cases, and in 4% of sequential sitings. Combined spinal/epidural anaesthesia for Caesarean section is more successful if each procedure is performed using separate spaces.