I read with great interest the paper by Kins ella et al. regarding rapid sequence spinal anaesthesia [1]. I have three issues I would like to raise. First, I am concerned about the potential compromise of aseptic precautions in this technique. As indicated in the article, a majority of UK anaesthetists routinely wear a gown, gloves, a mask and a hat when performing a spinal anaesthetic [2]. While logic suggests that for a no-touch technique, a gown is probably unnecessary (unlike for epidu-ral insertion where there is a catheter that may become contaminated), the AAGBI's 2008 publication 'Infection Control in Anaesthesia' [3] specifically states that 'The Working Party is aware that many anaesthetists do not employ this level of asepsis for 'one-shot' spinals or epidurals but believes that when central neural spaces are penetrated, full aseptic precautions are required.'
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