Fractura de aguja espinal. Caso reportado durante anestesia raquídea / Spinal needle fracture. Case report during spinal anesthesia

Resumen: La anestesia raquídea o espinal es la técnica anestésica utilizada en diferentes procedimientos quirúrgicos. Para ello, existen diversos tipos de agujas espinales, las cuales tienen un impacto distinto de acuerdo con las características fisiológicas de cada paciente. La fractura de aguja espinal, si bien es muy rara, se cuenta entre los factores de riesgo que pueden desencadenar múltiples complicaciones asociadas con la anestesia raquídea. En este artículo se estudia un caso de esta índole reportado en el Hospital General «La Perla¼, Nezahualcóyotl, y se mencionan los pasos que se siguieron para su resolución. Finalmente, se ofrecen algunos consejos dirigidos a los lectores especializados, en caso de encontrarse ante un incidente similar.

Abstract: Spinal anesthesia is the anesthesic technique of choice for different surgical procedures. There are several kinds of spinal needles, which have a different impact according to each patients physiological characteristics. Even though spinal needle fracture is very rare, it is among the risk factors that may lead to several complications associated with spinal anesthesia. In this article, we refer to a case of spinal needle fracture during an anesthesic procedure, reported at «La Perla¼ General Hospital, in Nezahualcoyotl, State of Mexico. Also, we mention the steps that were followed in order to solve our case. Finally, we offer some advice to the specialized readers, in case they have to face a similar incident.

Cefalea postpunción dural con aguja espinal de bisel cortante aguja espinal de punta cónica: revisión sistemática / Postdural puncture headache with cutting spinal needle pencil point spinal needle: systematic review

INTRODUCTION: Postdural puncture headache is one of the most frequent complications that occurs after the puncture of the dura mater, resulting in the spinal fluid leakage, through the same and subsequent traction of brain structures. OBJECTIVE: To compare cutting spinal needle and pencil point spinal needle in the incidence of postural dural puncture headache. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search of scientific articles published since 2006 was carried out in the Pubmed, Science Direct, Clinical Key and EBSCO databases, which evaluates the incidence of postdural puncture headache in spinal needles with conical tip and cutting bevel, additionally, experts will be consulted in the area that should suggest literature related to this topic, which would not have been included in the search methods previously described. RESULTS: In total, 14 studies were selected in the population that suffered puncture of the dura mater after accidental, therapeutic or diagnostic lumbar puncture (LP) and the presentation of postdural puncture headache was measured according to the ICHD-3 beta criteria. It was found that there is a decrease in the incidence of postdural puncture headache with conical tip spinal needles, compared to spinal needles of cutting bevel. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence indicates that postdural puncture headache occurs less frequently, with low intensity and short duration in patients operated with a conical spinal needle, compared to the cutting bevel. In addition, according to the recently described pathophysiology, it is contradictory that conical spinal needles are called "atraumatic", so this review proposes a change in nomenclature that is most useful for the clinical anesthesiologist.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La cefalea postpunción dural es una de las complicaciones más frecuentes que se presenta posterior a la punción de la duramadre, lo cual produce salida de líquido cefalorraquídeo, a través de la misma y posterior tracción de las estructuras cerebrales. OBJETIVO: Comparar la aguja espinal de bisel cortante y la aguja espinal de punta cónica en la incidencia de presentación de cefalea postpunción dural. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica de artículos científicos publicados desde el año 2006, en las bases de datos Pubmed, Science Direct, Clinical Key y EBSCO, que evaluaran la incidencia de cefalea postpunción dural en agujas espinales de punta cónica y bisel cortante, adicionalmente se consultó con expertos en el área que pudieran sugerir literatura relacionada con este tema, la cual no hubiese sido incluida en los métodos de búsqueda previamente descritos. RESULTADOS: En total se seleccionaron 14 estudios realizados en población que sufrieron punción de la duramadre luego de punción lumbar (PL) accidental, terapéutica o diagnóstica y se midió la presentación de cefalea postpunción dural según los criterios ICHD-3 beta. Se encontró que hay una disminución de la incidencia de cefalea postpunción dural con las agujas espinales de punta cónica, en comparación con las agujas espinales de bisel cortante. CONCLUSIONES: La evidencia actual indica que la cefalea postpunción dural se presenta con menor frecuencia, baja intensidad y corta duración en pacientes intervenidos con aguja espinal de punta cónica, en comparación con la aguja espinal de bisel cortante. Adicionalmente, según la fisiopatologia recientemente descrita, es contradictorio que las agujas espinales de punta cónica sean llamada "atraumáticas", por lo que esta revisión propone un cambio en la nomenclatura que resulta de mayor utilidad para el anestesiólogo clínico.

A comparison of three different gauge Quincke’s spinal needles in patients undergoing elective surgery under spinal anaesthesia: a prospective randomized study

Background: The present study was conducted to compare three different Quincke’s spinal needles i.e. 23, 25 and 26 gauge in patients undergoing elective surgery under spinal anaesthesia (SA).Methods: The prospective randomized double-blind study was conducted on 150 male patients in the age group of 18-50 yrs., having physical status class I to II, scheduled for elective surgery under SA. Patients were randomly divided into three groups comprising 50 patients each. SA was administered using Quincke’s spinal needles of 23, 25 and 26 gauge in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Ease of insertion, number of attempts and time of appearance of CSF and incidence of PDPH was recorded in all the patients.Results: Ease of insertion was graded easy in 98%, 84% and 82% in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. First attempt success rate was highest in group 1, (98%). Meantime for appearance of CSF beyond hub was maximum in group 3 i.e. 14.60±2.56 sec. Mild PDPH was reported in 6% and 2% patients after 24 hrs in group 1 and group 2 respectively.Conclusions: Finer spinal needle proved to be more dependable in generating less traumatic effect on the dura and preventing PDPH but are technically more difficult thus decreasing first attempt success rate.

27G Quincke spinal needle for spinal anaesthesia in Caesarean section: A study of 50 cases.

Background: Post dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a serious complication of spinal anaesthesia and incidence is more particularly in parturient. Aims & Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the use of 27 Gauge (G) spinal needle for spinal anaesthesia in Caesarean section in terms of success and PDPH rate. Material and Methods: We included total 50 female patients of aged 20-40 years old, were administered spinal anaesthesia with 27G Quincke spinal needle for Caesarean section by same investigator having enough experience. Redirections and attempts for lumbar puncture, success rates of spinal anaesthesia and PDPH were recorded. Results: We succeeded in 49 patients (98%) to administer spinal anaesthesia. The mean attempt and redirections for lumbar puncture were 1.1 and 1.24 respectively. We found PDPH in 1 patient (2%), which was mild in severity and subsided within two days. Conclusion: Spinal anaesthesia using a 27G Quincke spinal needle, in experienced hands can have successful spinal block with reduced PDPH rates in patients undergoing Caesarean section.

Viabilidade de duas novas técnicas para inseminação intrauterina laparoscópica em ovinos / Two new techniques for laparoscopic intrauterine insemination in sheep - feasibility study

Avaliaram-se duas novas técnicas de inseminação laparoscópica intrauterina com o uso de agulha espinhal em ovinos. Foram realizadas quatro etapas experimentais, sendo os animais separados em dois grupos em cada etapa. Para tanto, foram utilizados os posicionamentos quadrupedal e dorsal. Realizou-se a inseminação de 80 ovinos após a sincronização de cio. Verificou-se que os acessos laparoscópicos propostos foram viáveis para a inseminação em ovinos. Considerou-se que a inseminação em posicionamento quadrupedal foi tecnicamente mais difícil se comparada ao acesso laparoscópico em decúbito dorsal, porém, com o aprimoramento da técnica e na dependência dos resultados quanto aos índices de prenhez, poderá se tornar procedimento adequado para a inseminação de ovelhas.

This study evaluated two new laparoscopic intrauterine insemination techniques with spinal needles in sheep. Four experimental stages were done, in which the animals were separated into two groups aiming to evaluate the techniques used. We used a total of 80 estrus-synchronized sheep, which were placed in quadrupedal or dorsal recumbence. The results showed that both insemination techniques using a spinal needle are feasible, but the quadrupedal insemination is technically more difficult compared to the laparoscopic approach in the dorsal position. With technical improvement and depending on the results in relation to pregnancy rates, this access could be considered an alternative procedure for sheep insemination.

Inadvertent Breakage of the Spinal Needle during the Obturator Nerve Block for the Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Obturator nerve block is occasionally performed during transurethral resection of lateral bladder wall tumors to prevent the violent contraction of the adductor muscle of the thigh. Rare complications including intravascular injection of the local anesthetics and hematoma formation may occur during the obturator nerve block. We report a case of the unintentional breakage of the spinal needle during the obturator nerve block with successful removal of the broken spinal needle by an orthopedic surgeon.

A Comparison of the Use of a 22 G Quincke Needle with the Use of a 25 G Quincke Needle in Elderly Patients Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia Regarding Postoperative Complications / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Several reports have indicated that there are fewer postoperative complications after using a smaller spinal needle in young patients. However, no comparative report has been issued on the incidences of postoperative complications after using differently sized spinal needles for spinal anesthesia in elderly patients. Here, we compared a 22 G Quincke needle with a 25 G Quincke needle in elderly patients and investigated postoperative complications. METHODS: Fifty patients, aged over 60 years presented for an elective urological operation. Patients were randomized into two groups to receive spinal anesthetics using a 22 G Quincke needle (group L) or a 25 G Quincke needle (group S). The incidences of postdural puncture headache (PDPH), backaches, and the outcomes of spinal anesthesia were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Two patients in group L and one in group S developed PDPH postoperatively with no significant statistical difference between the two groups. Four patients suffered backache in group L and two in group S again without significance. But the number of puncture attempts was significantly higher in group S. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, postoperative complications were similar for both groups. However, spinal anesthesia was performed more easily when using a larger spinal needle. Therefore, we recommend that a larger spinal needle be used when difficult spinal anesthesia is anticipated in elderly patients.

Chlorhexidine Versus Povidone Iodine in Bacterial Contamination Rate of Needles Used for Spinal Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Skin antisepsis prior to the induction of spinal anesthesia is important because infectious complications may occur. Povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine have been widely used as antiseptic solutions for skin preparation; however, no study has been carried out to evaluate the efficacies of these antiseptic solutions for skin disinfection for spinal anesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine by monitoring needle contamination rates during spinal anesthesia. METHODS: One hundred patients were randomly assigned to receive either 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol solution or 10% povidone-iodine aqueous solution for skin preparation. Patients' skin was disinfected three times in the lumbar area using the designated antiseptic solution and then allowed to dry for 3 minutes. After the induction of spinal anesthesia, the spinal needle and trocar were kept in a sterile culture bottle containing 45 ml of tryptic soy broth. The needles and trocars were then incubated under aerobic conditions for 48 hours at 37oC, and contaminated microbes were identified by routine microbiological methods. RESULTS: Five of the 51-povidone-iodine treated patient group showed positive culture growth, while no contamination was observed in 46 chlorhexidine treated patients. The microbial organisms found in the povidone-iodine group were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Acinetobacter baumannii, and G (+) Bacillus species. CONCLUSIONS: 5% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol solution showed more potent anti-microbial effect than 10% povidone-iodine aqueous solution in terms of reducing the bacterial contamination rate of spinal needles.

Separated Spinal Needle Shaft from the Hub during Subarachnoid Block: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

We report a case of in which the separation of a spinal needle shaft from a hub during subarachnoid block required surgical removal of the retained shaft. A 26-year-old male was scheduled for a transurethral resection of a bladder tumor under spinal anesthesia. A 25-gauge Quincke needle was selected The needle was advanced to the junction of the hub and the L3-4 interspace through a midline approach, but the subarachnoid space was not identified When the needle was withdrawn to change of direction of needle tip, the needle shaft separated from the hub. The separated needle shaft was palpable under the patient's skin, but it's removal using a Kelly through a small incision was impossible. Under the radiographic guidance, the needle was removed after several attempts. We emphasize importance of checking epuipment prior to a subarachnoid block and the use of a careful procedure to reduce complications associated with a faulty spinal needle.