[Comparison of the clinical usefulness of the two types of combined spinal epidural needles].

The clinical usefulness of Combined Spinal-Epidural (CSE) needles, Portex Spinal/Epidural set (P needles) and Hakko Disposable Needles set type H (H needles) was compared on 30 patients undergoing elective orthopedic lower limb surgeries. Although the calibers of the epidural needles were a little different, both needles were introduced quite easily in the epidural space. The spinal needles were inserted successfully to the subarachnoid space in 27 out of 30 cases by the P needles and 23 out of 30 cases by the H needles. The average trial times for successful insertion of the spinal needles were 1.3 and 2.6 by the P needles and the H needles, respectively. this was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Adequate spinal anesthesia was established in 26 patients (87%) and 19 patients (63%) by the P needles and the H needles, respectively. One case of the accidental location of the epidural catheter in the subarachnoid space was observed in each group. As the CSE device, the P needles were more sophisticatedly designed for easier insertion to the subarachnoid space than the H needles.