Efficacy of different size Quincke spinal needles in reduction of incidence of Post-Dural Puncture Headache (PDPH) in Caesarean Section (CS). Randomized controlled study

PDPH occurred in 19 patients (31.7%) in GI, 7 patients (11.7%) in GII and 0 patients in GIII. However, the time taken to get CSF from onset of needle insertion was significantly different between the three groups; {13.6(5.2), 28.7(11.1) and 113.5(27.4) sec. mean(SD) in GI, GII and GIII} respectively. The duration of local anaesthetic injection through the spinal needles was significantly different between the three groups; {9.3(0.6), 15.3(1.2) and 37.4(1.7) sec. mean(SD); GI, GII and GIII} respectively. Also time to reach T4 block was significantly longer in GIII when compared with other groups; {5.7(0.8), 5.7(1.1) and 8.0(0.7) min. mean(SD); GI, GII and GIII} respectively. P < 0.05. Conclusion: Spinal anaesthesia with a 29G needle reduced the incidence of PDPH in elective CS to 0%. However, it is significantly more time consuming to give spinal anaesthesia with 29G needle than with the other needles.