POST SPINAL HEADACHE

COMPARING NEEDLES OF 25 AND 27 GAUGES FOR INCIDENCE OF POST SPINAL HEADACHE.

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of the study was to give emphasis for use of smaller caliber spinal
needles with the bevel placed sagitally to get the best results and reduce the incidence of PDPH in the patients getting
spinal anesthesia. Design: The study on PDPH was conducted as comparative and prospective. Study comparing the
two different spinal needles of 25 G and 27 G (different calibers for incidence of Post dural puncture headache). Place
of study: This study was conducted in Anaesthesiology department CMH Lahore.. Patients and methods: For this
study the literature from different books/magazines/ journals and internet was consulted to make the study comparable.
The study design contained the patients selection through randomization technique. Proper criteria for selection of the
patients were opted and in it only A.S.A.1 Patients were studied. Similarly certain specific age group (young patients)
were kept for this study to get accurate results, proper caparison and patients and already got spinal anaesthesia were
not tested too. Quincke Babcock spinal needles of 25G and 27G were easily available in the market. This clinical trial
contained eighty patients divided in two groups. After taking all precautionary measures they were given spinal
anaesthesia and after it they were observed for spinal headache (study performa annexed). Epidural blood patches
were also given in those patients who were given spinal anaesthesia with 25G needle, where required. Conclusion:
The results of the study were tested by use of Chi’s square test with 1/ of freedom. The results confirmed the
hypothesis that smaller caliber needle (27G) caused no PDPH while bigger caliber needle (25G) caused headache in
percentage of patients. In the end the references from the concerned literature were cited and results were found
comparable as given in the literature. The role of smaller caliber needles was well evaluated in this study.