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Understanding the Risks of Neuraxial Anesthesia: Implications for Needle Selection

May 9, 2024

Introduction

Neuraxial anesthesia has become the method of choice for planned deliveries and other procedures suitable for regional anesthesia. Despite its advantages, there have been a growing number of incidents involving epidural needles breaking—especially in cases involving severely obese patients (1,2,3). This article explores the occurrence of needle injuries and breakage during anesthesia procedures underscoring the importance of using high quality spinal needles to ensure patient safety and positive results.

While the precise incidence of needle breakage is unknown, certain risk factors have been identified. These include emergency surgeries, obesity and multiple attempts at needle insertion. Studies have documented instances of needle breakage in individuals due to encountering resistance from bone during placement. Issues like difficulty in identifying landmarks and redirecting the needle without moving the introducer properly contribute to failed placements leading to needle breakage. Even a routine vascular puncture for blood collection can result in a needle breaking and staying inside the body during a procedure, injection, or surgery.

Another potential complication from neuraxial anesthesia could be dural puncture with needle insertion, sometimes resulting in PDPH (post-dural puncture headache); severe headache worsened by the upright position significantly affects both recovery and patient satisfaction. Although generally self-limiting, PDPH often responds to further interventions, such as epidural blood patching.

Nerve injury is also a possible complication of neuraxial anesthesia that can result from injury or compression. Signs and symptoms include sensory or motor deficits, neuropathic pain, or autonomic dysfunction. Early recognition and management are crucial to prevent chronic sequelae.

A rare but serious complication associated with neuraxial anesthesia is infection. Improper sterile technique or contaminated equipment can introduce pathogens into the spinal or epidural space, potentially causing meningitis, epidural abscesses, or systemic infections.

Pioneering Safety: How RELI® Spinal Needles Lead the Way in Neuraxial Anesthesia

In the landscape of modern healthcare, patient safety stands as a cornerstone of medical practice. Nowhere is this commitment more evident than in the realm of neuraxial anesthesia, where the choice of equipment can profoundly impact patient outcomes. The introduction provided a sobering account of the risks associated with this indispensable procedure, shedding light on the concerning trend of epidural needle breakage, particularly in cases involving severely obese patients. As healthcare professionals, it is incumbent upon us to continually reassess our practices and embrace innovative solutions to mitigate these risks and ensure the highest standard of care.

The choice of superior spinal needles is a crucial aspect of neuraxial anesthesia since it significantly influences both procedural success and patient safety. 

To guarantee outstanding results, these instruments are made with precision engineering and strict quality control procedures. Their consistency and sharpness allow for easy penetration through tissues, reducing damage and decreasing the likelihood of complications like nerve injury or dural puncture. Additionally, superior spinal needles offer enhanced tactile feedback, enabling medical practitioners to precisely and confidently navigate complex anatomical systems. This increased control promotes a safer and more efficient patient experience in addition to reducing the risk of surgical errors.

Moreover, choosing premium spinal needles represents a dedication to maintaining the greatest levels of care and putting the needs of the patient first, beyond all other factors. Healthcare providers show their commitment to providing safe, efficient, and patient-centered treatment by investing in top-notch devices. Reduced pain, quicker recovery periods, and more patient satisfaction highlight the critical role that premium spinal needles play in maximizing procedure results and raising the standard of care. Essentially, the selection of spinal needles is a fundamental aspect of both procedural quality and patient safety, demonstrating the steadfast dedication of medical professionals to maintaining the highest standards of care.

Driving Change Through Collaboration and Evaluation

Collaboration is essential to progress because it involves a deliberate attempt to combine knowledge, resources, and insights in order to promote significant change. The introduction outlined the various hazards associated with neuraxial anesthesia, including the possibility of needle breakage, infections, and nerve damage. As a result, RELI® has adopted a collaborative approach, working with researchers, industry experts, and healthcare professionals to design and improve safety-engineered products that satisfy the changing demands of both patients and practitioners. RELI® Spinal Needles go through constant revision to stay at the forefront of safety and innovation, including stringent evaluation procedures and ongoing feedback loops.

Elevating Safety Standards: The Role of RELI® Spinal Needles

RELI® Spinal Needles stand out as leaders in innovation and dependability in the pursuit of improved patient safety. These needles redefined safety in neuraxial anesthesia with their sophisticated features and well-engineered design. The hazards of needle breakage, dural puncture, nerve injury, and infection were examined in the introduction, which highlighted the urgent need for devices that healthcare providers can rely on. 

RELI® Spinal Needles meet this problem head-on by providing unmatched control, tactile feedback, and sharpness to enable a smooth and accurate insertion. Additionally, its sterile packaging guarantees the highest level of sanitation, lowering the possibility of contamination and infection—an important factor in the current state of healthcare.

 RELI® needles offer unparalleled precision, safety, and efficacy with a variety of specific designs to suit the various demands of patients and healthcare professionals. 

Constructed with great care and attention to detail, the Quincke Point Spinal Needle comes in a variety of configurations, including standard and short bevel versions. For smooth insertion and minimal tissue stress, every needle is precision ground to guarantee consistency and sharpness. In addition to reducing coring and trauma, the precise fit of the stylet and cannula bevel also improves patient comfort and procedural success.

RELI® Spinal Needles are known for their big, transparent hubs, which offer improved tactile feedback and improved visuals of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during insertion. Because of its clarity, medical personnel are able to more accurately determine the insertion angle and depth, which lowers the possibility of problems like dural puncture or nerve damage. RELI® needles are also made with smooth insertion resistance, which makes it easier to identify tissue layers and provides the best possible maneuverability when performing procedures. RELI® Spinal Needles are versatile and reliable in a variety of clinical settings. They are available in both sterile and non-sterile packaging.

In addition to the Quincke Point Spinal Needle, RELI® also offers the Pencil Point Spinal Needle, renowned for its atraumatic design and side-port dispensing feature. This design minimizes the loss of CSF and enhances patient comfort and recovery.

Empowering Healthcare Professionals: The Impact of RELI® Spinal Needles

Beyond just meeting technical requirements, RELI® Spinal Needles give medical practitioners the confidence and accuracy to provide care. These needles allow practitioners to concentrate on the patient, rather than worrying about the safety and dependability of their equipment. The introduction's examination of cooperative tactics and safety-engineered equipment emphasized how important RELI® Spinal Needles are to bringing about constructive change in healthcare systems. One procedure at a time, these needles raise the bar for care while simultaneously protecting patient well-being. 

Get Needles and Syringes and More from MYCO Medical

MYCO Medical is a NMSDC Certified Diversity Supplier specializing in delivering premium medical devices and disposables to health systems throughout the United States and Canada. Since 1993, we've helped countless hospitals and care centers overcome their biggest supply chain challenges and build a consistent stream of high-quality medical supplies.

Our needles and syringes are made with effective safety mechanisms to help provide optimal sharps protection and minimize the risk of accidental needle stick injury. All needles are manufactured to strict quality standards using computerized grinding and 100% visual camera inspection to ensure sharp, consistent, and high-quality needles in FDA-inspected ISO 13485 certified facilities which utilize good manufacturing practices per USFDA standards. 

Browse from our wide selection of durable Luer lock syringes, insulin syringes, hypodermic syringes, hypodermic needles, safety syringes, specialty needles and more, or contact our sales team today and receive a free complimentary sample and quote for our most popular products. 

Browse All Needles & Syringe Products from MYCO Medical

Reference:

  1. Choi, H. S. (2022). Broken needle embedded in the body during vascular puncture. Healthcare, 10(8), 1436. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081436
  2. Shah, S., Vanderhoef, K., & Ibrahim, M. (2020). Broken spinal needle in a morbidly obese parturient presenting for urgent cesarean section. Case Reports in Anesthesiology, 2020, 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8880464
  3. Kaboré, R. A. F., Traoré, I. A., Traoré, S. I. S., Bougouma, C. T. H. W., Augustin, P., & Maman, A. O. (2018). Broken needle during spinal anesthesia: an avoidable complication. Local and Regional Anesthesia, Volume 11, 111-113. https://doi.org/10.2147/lra.s175547
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