Cancer Institute A national cancer institute
designated cancer center

Emily Ratner

Publication Details

  • A comparison of the 24-gauge Sprotte and Gertie Marx spinal needles for combined spinal-epidural analgesia during labor.

    Riley ET, Hamilton CL, Ratner EF, Cohen SE. Anesthesiology. 2002; 97 (3): 574-7

    Prior experience with the combined spinal-epidural technique (CSE) for labor analgesia demonstrated a high (up to 14%) failure rate because of failure to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or lack of response to appropriate doses of intrathecal sufentanil. The current study was designed to test whether a longer needle with a shorter side port (Gertie Marx needle; 127 mm long) would eliminate failures to obtain CSF compared with the needle we had used previously (Sprotte needle; 120 mm long).

    PubMedID: 12218522

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