Dry Tap and Ultrasound-assisted Combined Spinal Epidural Anaesthesia

Use of ultrasonography to identify the anatomical structures during central neuraxial blockade is becoming increasingly common. Ultrasound-assistance and its real-time guidance have been used to gauge the depth of the dura-ligamentum-flavum complex. Successful spinal anaesthetic blocks following dry taps have rarely been reported. We report two cases of successful subarachnoid blocks despite dry taps where pre-procedure ultrasonography of the vertebral column helped in decision making process.