Let's talk about... spinals

Experienced CRNAs;
Lets look at positioning, needles, doses for spinals for total hip replacements.
What are your likes, dislikes. Drug choice, doses. What is your favorite position for placing?

Spinals for total hips in our hospital needs to last around 1 hr but with some surgeons it needs to last a little longer. Many times I will use Tetracaine 1mL with Dextrose 1mL with Fentanyl 25mcg and between .2-.3 mg of duramorph. I lay the pt on the effected side (starting a light propofol gtt and giving them some versed before hand). I position them in a semi-fetal position and quickly place the spinal using midline technique. (We don't have anyone to help us with airway, sedation or holding the pt soemtimes). Of course, I have them on a pulse ox so if I have to, I break sterile and deal with the airway/oxygenation. Usually if I'm fast enough, I can throw it in before anyone has a chance to desat.
I find that for the really elderly, I need to use paramedium technique. I am not real great at that yet. Os, Os, Os with the old guys!
Whittacre needles are in our kit 25g. Occasionally a 22g without an introducer has to be used, but I try to avoid.
How young of a person do you give spinals to? I had a 22 yo male with a kidney stone that needed ESWL and I wanted to give a sufenta spinal to him, but my peers thought he was too young. What do you think?
(I'm tired of reading about questions that have nothing to do with practicing anesthesia, maybe we can use this blog for what it is intended for: bettering our practice).