Success Rate of Spinal Anesthesia by Anesthesia Resident: Comparing Ultrasonography Versus Traditional Method, a Randomized Clinical Trial

Previous studies have suggested the use of ultrasonography for more success in spinal anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of ultrasonography and traditional method on the success rate of spinal anesthesia by an anesthesia resident. In this clinical trial study, patients who were candidate for leg or lower abdominal surgery under spinal anesthesia and referred to Firoozgar and Rasoul-e-Akram hospitals in 2019 were randomly assigned to techniques: 1) common surface marking techniques and 2) the use of ultrasonography to find the spinal canal. The dural puncture success rate at the first needle entry attempt, time required for determining the needle entry site, time required for needle entry until CSF exit, number of needle redirection without complete skin exit, and needle entry after complete needle withdrawal in each group were measured and recorded. The success rate of dural puncture at the first attempt of entry and the time required to determine the needle entry site in the ultrasonography group (55.2%) was significantly higher than that in Landmark group (21.4%) (P<0.05). The time required for needle entrance to CSF exit, the total procedure time for patients, the number of needles redirection without complete removal of the skin, and the number of needle entry after complete removal of the skin in the ultrasonography group was significantly lower than that in Landmark group (P<0.05). The use of ultrasonography in comparison with the traditional method has been effective on the success rate of spinal anesthesia by an anesthesia resident.