Assessment of preformed, coiled-tipped, micro spinal catheter.

We have developed a preformed, coiled-tipped, microspinal catheter made of Teflon, 30-gauge, 90 cm long and with a 3-cm long circled tip of 7 mm in diameter. We have studied the problems of using microcatheters, specifically the difficulty in placing the catheter and the maldistribution of local anaesthetic. In this study we have compared three types of spinal catheter: the new, coiled-tipped catheter, a standard, straight-tipped catheter and a 32-gauge microcatheter (TFX) with a stainless steel stylet embedded in the side wall (Microspinal, TFX/Rush Medical, Duluth, GA, USA). The coiled-tipped catheters were placed in the subarachnoid space more rapidly and with greater ease than the straight-tipped and TFX catheters (100%, 75% and 8% within 2 min, respectively), and had the highest success rate in achieving adequate block compared with the others (94%, 69% and 64%, respectively).