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86 Timioara, 2006
position preventing unilateral blocks. an adjuvant is not beneficial in all cases surely
Nevertheless several investigators have tried to not when the dose of the local anesthetic is
improve the design of this combined technique lowered simultaneously.
such as back holes, lockable needle design and Sufentanil and fentanyl are probably the
double-lumen needles but it remains to be most widely used adjuvant substances. The more
demonstrated whether these changes can be potent sufentanil may offer faster onset, less
translated in a higher success-rate. Although accumulation, and longer duration of action
most studies claim a lower failure incidence when administered in equipotent doses as
when performing this technique using two compared to fentanyl. Unfortunately opioids,
separate interspaces, the single-interspace epinephrine and clonidine may enhance some
technique may be less time-consuming and offer local anesthetic related side effects.
more comfort to the patient. If pre-emptive administration of adjuvant
Finally, CSA (Continuous Spinal substances may not be useful in terms of failure
Anesthesia) may, due to its flexibility, remain rate,(1) then it may be questioned even more
the future dream of regional neuraxial blocks. whether they would be interesting to rescue a
Unfortunately the lack of optimal equipment failing block.
(still too much headache), technical difficulty, The only major advantage of adjuvant
the risk of TRI/TNS and cauda equina will limit substance may be that local anesthetic doses may
the success of CSA. Articles on the use of CSA be reduced significantly, which may leave some
during recent years were mostly restricted to reserve to repeat an epidural block without
isolated case reports for which it was thought exceeding toxic doses.
that CSA may offer the best way-out. When the
anesthetist thinks that CSA is the really best
technique in a high risk patient in whom general
CAN WE PREDICT A BLOCK
anesthesia should be avoided at all price, then
the benefit of CSA outweighs the risk of PDPH. FAILURE?
88 Timioara, 2006
A spinal block may, though hypoesthesia Spinal anesthesia may be an excellent
is experienced, tend to fail when the upper level option to save a failing epidural. This has been
does not reach the desired dermatome. This level used as an attractive alternative in obstetric
may be extended more cephalad by positional practice. However, up to date at least 12 cases
change or, as not all believe, by a Valsalva have been reported of a high and even total spinal
manoeuvre or cough. When as in CSE an block after the performance of a spinal block
epidural catheter is present the upper sensory following a failing epidural. Pregnant women
level may be increased by the injection of air, require significantly lower doses than their non-
saline (and of course a small dose of local pregnant counterparts. Due to this it is even more
anesthetics). This is called EVE (i.e. epidural challenging to predict the spinal dose required
to save a partially functioning epidural.
volume extension). It should be emphasized that
Compression of the subarachnoid space by
when injecting local anesthetics in the epidural
previous epidural injections or infusion may also
space after CSE, the upper sensory level tends partly explain the occurrence of total spinals with
to be several dermatomes higher than in plain obviously normal doses.
epidural top-ups even when injected significant The experience with a spinal after a failing
time after the spinal when the effect of the latter epidural is actually very controversial with some
is wearing off. authors observing no single problem even in
When all of these adaptations are not series of patients while others strongly rejected
helpful, repeating/reinstalling the block may this practice based upon few cases observed in
remain the only option. Especially when no their practice (8,9). Few authors leave their pre-
measurable sensory block is present or when the existing catheter although this may compromise
block is strictly unilateral, there is little chance the aseptical conditions while these failing
that the block can be saved without a major catheters are most probably of no use.
intervention. To avoid the risk of a high or total spinal it
A spinal block can be repeated very easily is recommended that no epidural top-ups should
as no large doses have been used. However, the have been administered during the last 30
anesthetist should wait long enough to be sure minutes, to let the block recede to the lumbar
that no effect is observed. This interval should dermatomes (if time allows) and to administer a
be at least 20 minutes. The same may account 20-30% lower spinal dose than when it would
for CSE anesthesia. Most anesthetists however have been used as the initial technique (9). As a
will not wait that long when it appears that the consequence bupivacaine doses of 9-11mg are
spinal part does not offer sufficient analgesia/ recommended which in my opinion still seem
extremely large as in our hospital we use less
anesthesia. Most of them will rather prefer a
than 7mg with sufentanil as our primary
small local anesthetic dose instead of speculating
technique for elective cesarean section. In
on the EVE-effect of saline alone.
addition, keeping the parturient in the sitting
Of more concern is the failing epidural position for several minutes may also prevent
block. When repeating the block or replacement an inadvertant cephalad spread of the block.
of the catheter becomes mandatory, much A CSE or even CSA technique may allow
depends on the dose already administered and the use of very small doses that may be adjusted
the time allowed to initiate surgery such as in by the freshly placed new catheter (7). Leaving
cesarean section. Especially following labor the spinal catheter for at least 24 hours may
analgesia and subsequent administration of a significantly reduce the incidence of headache,
surgical dose, near toxic doses may have been and at least of the need for an epidural blood
given forcing the anesthetist to perform another patch.
type of block. I had several successes with the
injection (through the Tuohy needle before Postoperative analgesia
catheter placement) of a small dose of lidocaine
2% (5-8mL) in cesarean section patients, lying Although the correct placement of the
on the unanesthetised side while either removing epidural catheter during CSE anesthesia may not
or leaving the first catheter. always be obvious, or even after correct initial
90 Timioara, 2006