IS THE PENCIL POINT SPINAL NEEDLE A BETTER CHOICE IN YOUNGER PATIENTS- A COMPARISON OF 24G SPROTTE WITH 27G QUINCKE NEEDLES IN AN UNSELECTED GROUP OF GENERAL SURGICAL PATIENTS BELOW 46 YEARS OF AGE

Reports have indicated that there are less postoperative complaints af ter the use of pencil pointed spinal needles. We compared a 24G Sprott e needle with a 27G Quincke needle in a randomised study of 200 health y patients (49% females), aged 15-46 years. Four patients (2%) reporte d postdural puncture headache, three Kith the 24G Sprotte needle and o ne with the 27G Quincke needle. Thirteen patients (7%) suffered with n onspecific headache, with no significant difference between the two gr oups. Of the 57 (29%) who reported backpain, a significantly higher pr oportion had received spinal anaesthesia with the Sprotte needle (OR=2 .06). There was a significantly higher incidence of insufficient block s after dural puncture with the Sprotte needle. Ease of needle inserti on and number of puncture attempts was the same for both needle types.