Total spinal in an infant: can ‘dry taps’ occur with 20G Tuohy needles?
C. Jonmarker, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA (email: [email protected]).
Summary
The loss-of-resistance technique was used to place a 20G epidural needle in the lumbar region in an anesthetized and paralyzed infant. There was no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and a 24G catheter was inserted through the needle. At end of surgery, when the patient was breathing spontaneously and a bupivacaine bolus was given through the catheter, a total spinal block was identified. A bench test demonstrated that CSF leakage from a 20G needle can be delayed if CSF pressure is low and if air bubbles are present in the needle.
