Comparison of 26− and 27-G Needles for Spinal Anesthesia for Ambulatory Surgery Patients

Seven hundred thirty ambulatory surgery patients, randomly assigned to receive spinal anesthesia with a 26- or 27-G needle, were studied for the incidence of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH), postoperative back pain, and patient acceptance. The incidence of PDPH following the use of 26- and 27-G needles was 9.6% and 1.5%, respectively (P<0.05). The incidence of PPDH was 5.7% among men and 13.4% among women following the use of 26-G needles (P<0.05), whereas no difference between men and women was noted after the use of 27-G needles