BACKGROUND: To reduce the risk of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) in continuous spinal anaesthesia, small-gauge spinal catheter systems with different techniques of dural perforation have been developed. METHODS: Two systems, the catheter through-needle technique (MicroCatheter, Portex, UK) and the catheter over-needle technique (22G Spinocath, B. Braun, Germany), were used in 18 young healthy volunteers (age 18-30 yr), who were enrolled in a neuroendocrinological investigation for analysis of neuropeptides in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). After intermittent sampling of CSF (17 x 0.5 ml over 4 h), the catheter was removed and the development of PDPH and pain intensity were documented prospectively by the subjects in a standardized headache assessment (11-point numerical rating scale [NRS]). RESULTS: The study revealed a high overall incidence of PDPH (78%) with no significant differences between groups (P=0.26). However, the over-needle group showed a significantly shorter duration of PDPH (2.4 [SD 2.3] vs 5.1 [3.1] days, P=0.050) and lower maximum pain intensity (3.1 [2.9] vs 7.3 [3.4] NRS, P=0.014) than the through-needle group. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate a potential benefit of the catheter over-needle technique for the reduction of the duration and intensity of PDPH.
BACKGROUND: To reduce the risk of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) in continuous spinal anaesthesia, small-gauge spinal catheter systems with different techniques of dural perforation have been developed. METHODS: Two systems, the catheter through-needle technique (MicroCatheter, Portex, UK) and the catheter over-needle technique (22G Spinocath, B. Braun, Germany), were used in 18 young healthy volunteers (age 18-30 yr), who were enrolled in a neuroendocrinological investigation for analysis of neuropeptides in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). After intermittent sampling of CSF (17 x 0.5 ml over 4 h), the catheter was removed and the development of PDPH and pain intensity were documented prospectively by the subjects in a standardized headache assessment (11-point numerical rating scale [NRS]). RESULTS: The study revealed a high overall incidence of PDPH (78%) with no significant differences between groups (P=0.26). However, the over-needle group showed a significantly shorter duration of PDPH (2.4 [SD 2.3] vs 5.1 [3.1] days, P=0.050) and lower maximum pain intensity (3.1 [2.9] vs 7.3 [3.4] NRS, P=0.014) than the through-needle group. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate a potential benefit of the catheter over-needle technique for the reduction of the duration and intensity of PDPH.
Authors: Izaak den Daas; Johan Wemer; Khalid Abou Farha; Wim Tamminga; Theo de Boer; Rob Spanjersberg; Michel M R F Struys; Anthony R Absalom Journal: Eur J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2012-11-10 Impact factor: 2.953