Aim: Frequency of post dural puncture headache with Quincke 25G and 27G needles for spinal anesthesia

Design of study: Control randomized study

Setting: Anesthesiology/ deptt. / ICU, Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore

Duration: 29-08-2013 to 01-03-2014 for 6 months

Methodology: This was a prospective study of 100 patients undergoing surgery under spinal anesthesia. The subjects were divided in two groups. In group I, the anesthesia was applied with 25G quincke needle and in group II, the anesthesia was applied with 27G quincke needle. The patients were evaluated for post dural puncture headache till 72 hours postoperatively. Chi-square test was applied. P <0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: PDPH was seen in 14 (28%) subjects in group I and in 4 (8%) subjects in group II.

Conclusion: 27G needle should be preferred over 25G needle for application of spinal anesthesia due to decreased PDPH

Keywords: Post dural puncture headache; spinal anesthesia; quincke needle