THE SPROTTE NEEDLE AND POST DURAL PUNCTURE HEADACHE FOLLOWING CESAREAN-SECTION

One hundred and forty-four patients receiving subarachnoid anaesthesia for caesarean section were prospectively analysed for quality of anae sthesia and the occurrence of post dural puncture headache (PDPH). Ana esthesia was administered via 24 gauge Sprotte (n = 104) and 26 gauge Quincke (n = 40) needles using hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% with morphi ne 0.2 mg. Anaesthesia was successful in 103 patients with the Sprotte needle and 38 patients with the Quincke needle, and the operating con ditions were considered to he excellent. Of the 104 patients in the Sp rotte needle group there were ten with PDPH (9.6%), two of which were considered severe. Of the 40 patients in the Quincke needle group ther e were eight with PDPH (20%), three of which were considered severe. D espite the lower incidence of headache in the Sprotte needle group, th is was not statistically significant (P > 0.05), due to the difference in population size. We conclude that the 24 gauge Sprotte needle is a ssociated with a comparatively low but clinically relevant incidence o f headache in the obstetric population.