AN IN-VITRO COMPARISON OF FLUID LEAKAGE AFTER DURAL PUNCTURE WITH ATRAUCAN, SPROTTE, WHITACRE, AND QUINCKE NEEDLES

Background and Objectives. The study was designed to evaluate the infl uence of needle size and design on the rate of leakage following dural puncture. Methods. An in vitro model and fresh human lumbar dura were used to examine the rate of fluid leakage after puncture with Sprotte (24-gauge and 26-gauge), Atraucan (24-gauge and 26-gauge), Quincke (2 6-gauge and 29-gauge), and Whitacre (22-gauge and 25-gauge) needles. R esults. The study confirmed that finer-gauge needles tend to produce l ess leakage and that traditional Quincke pattern bevels result in grea ter leakage than pencil-point designs of the same diameter. Conclusion s. The comparably low leakage rate produced by the Atraucan, a new nee dle with a terminal opening, suggests that this needle is worthy of fu rther clinical evaluation.