Lumbar Puncture

No Results

No Results

processing….

Lumbar puncture is a procedure that is often performed in the emergency department to obtain information about the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). ^{[1, 2, 3, 4]} Although usually used for diagnostic purposes to rule out potential life-threatening conditions (eg, bacterial meningitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage), it is also sometimes used for therapeutic purposes (eg, treatment of pseudotumor cerebri). CSF fluid analysis can also aid in the diagnosis of various other conditions (eg, demyelinating diseases and carcinomatous meningitis).

Lumbar puncture should be performed only after a neurologic examination but should never delay potentially life-saving interventions, such as the administration of antibiotics and steroids to patients with suspected bacterial meningitis. ^[5]

The lumbar spine consists of 5 moveable vertebrae numbered L1-L5.The lumbar vertebrae have a vertical height that is less than their horizontal diameter. They are composed of the following 3 functional parts:

The vertebral body, designed to bear weight

The vertebral (neural) arch, designed to protect the neural elements

The bony processes (spinous and transverse), which function to increase the efficiency of muscle action

The lumbar vertebral bodies are distinguished from the thoracic bodies by the absence of rib facets. The lumbar vertebral bodies (vertebrae) are the heaviest components, connected together by the intervertebral discs. The size of the vertebral body increases from L1 to L5, indicative of the increasing loads that each lower lumbar vertebra absorbs. Of note, the L5 vertebra has the heaviest body, smallest spinous process, and thickest transverse process.

For more information about the relevant anatomy, see Lumbar Spine Anatomy.

Lumbar puncture should be performed for the following indications:

Suspicion of meningitis

Suspicion of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)

Suspicion of central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome ^[6] and carcinomatous meningitis

Therapeutic relief of pseudotumor cerebri ^[7]

Absolute contraindications for lumbar puncture are the presence of infected skin over the needle entry site and the presence of unequal pressures between the supratentorial and infratentorial compartments. The latter is usually inferred from the following characteristic findings on computed tomography (CT) of the brain:

Midline shift

Loss of suprachiasmatic and basilar cisterns

Posterior fossa mass

Loss of the superior cerebellar cistern

Loss of the quadrigeminal plate cistern

Relative contraindications for lumbar puncture include the following:

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)

Coagulopathy

Brain abscess

Indications for performing brain CT scanning before lumbar puncture in patients with suspected meningitis include the following ^[8] :

Patients who are older than 60 years

Patients who are immunocompromised

Patients with known CNS lesions

Patients who have had a seizure within 1 week of presentation

Patients with an abnormal level of consciousness

Patients with focal findings on neurologic examination

Patients with papilledema seen on physical examination, with clinical suspicion of an elevated ICP

Cranial CT scanning should be obtained before lumbar puncture in all patients with suspected SAH in order to diagnose obvious intracranial bleeding or any significant intracranial mass effect that might be present in awake and alert SAH patients with a normal neurologic examination. ^{[9, 10]}

The following measures should be taken to help minimize complications of lumbar puncture:

Explain the procedure, benefits, risks, complications, and alternative options to the patient or the patient’s representative, and obtain a signed informed consent

Before performing the lumbar puncture, ensure that patients are hydrated so as to avoid a dry tap

Never allow a lumbar puncture or a pre–lumbar puncture CT scan to delay administration of intravenous (IV) antibiotics; meningitis can usually be inferred from the cell count, antigen detection, or both

Avoid lumbar puncture in patients in whom the disease process has progressed to the neurologic findings associated with impending cerebral herniation (ie, deteriorating level of consciousness and brainstem signs that include pupillary changes, posturing, irregular respirations, and very recent seizure) ^{[11, 12]}

The smaller the needle used for the lumbar puncture, the lower the risk that the patient will experience a post–lumbar puncture headache. Data suggest an inverse linear relation between needle gauge and headache incidence, and some authors recommend using a 22-gauge needle regardless of what size needle is supplied with the kit. ^[13]

The use of atraumatic needles has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of post–lumbar puncture headache (3%) when compared to the use of standard spinal needles (approximately 30%). ^{[14, 15]} In addition, it may lead to cost savings. ^[16] However, obtaining pressures can be more difficult with atraumatic needles.

Prophylactic bed rest after lumbar puncture has not been shown to be of benefit and should not be recommended. ^{[17, 18, 19]}

Farley A, McLafferty E. Lumbar puncture. Nurs Stand. 2008 Feb 6-12. 22(22):46-8. [Medline].

Reichman E, Simon RR. Emergency Medicine Procedures. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004.

Roberts JR, Hedges JR. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 4th. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2004.

Cooper N. Lumbar puncture. Acute Med. 2011. 10(4):188-93.

de Gans J, van de Beek D, European Dexamethasone in Adulthood Bacterial Meningitis Study Investigators. Dexamethasone in adults with bacterial meningitis. N Engl J Med. 2002 Nov 14. 347(20):1549-56. [Medline]. [Full Text].

Petzold A, Brettschneider J, Jin K, et al. CSF protein biomarkers for proximal axonal damage improve prognostic accuracy in the acute phase of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Muscle Nerve. 2009 Jul. 40(1):42-9. [Medline].

Chern JJ, Tubbs RS, Gordon AS, Donnithorne KJ, Oakes WJ. Management of pediatric patients with pseudotumor cerebri. Childs Nerv Syst. 2012 Jan 19. [Epub ahead of print].

Hasbun R, Abrahams J, Jekel J, Quagliarello VJ. Computed tomography of the head before lumbar puncture in adults with suspected meningitis. N Engl J Med. 2001 Dec 13. 345(24):1727-33. [Medline]. [Full Text].

Baraff LJ, Byyny RL, Probst MA, Salamon N, Linetsky M, Mower WR. Prevalence of herniation and intracranial shift on cranial tomography in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and a normal neurologic examination. Acad Emerg Med. 2010 Apr. 17(4):423-8. [Medline].

Boesiger BM, Shiber JR. Subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosis by computed tomography and lumbar puncture: are fifth generation CT scanners better at identifying subarachnoid hemorrhage?. J Emerg Med. 2005 Jul. 29(1):23-7. [Medline].

Joffe AR. Lumbar puncture and brain herniation in acute bacterial meningitis: a review. J Intensive Care Med. 2007 Jul-Aug. 22(4):194-207. [Medline].

Oliver WJ, Shope TC, Kuhns LR. Fatal lumbar puncture: fact versus fiction–an approach to a clinical dilemma. Pediatrics. 2003 Sep. 112(3 Pt 1):e174-6. [Medline].

Lambert DH, Hurley RJ, Hertwig L, Datta S. Role of needle gauge and tip configuration in the production of lumbar puncture headache. Reg Anesth. 1997 Jan-Feb. 22(1):66-72. [Medline].

Lavi R, Yarnitsky D, Yernitzky D, Rowe JM, Weissman A, Segal D. Standard vs atraumatic Whitacre needle for diagnostic lumbar puncture: a randomized trial. Neurology. 2006 Oct 24. 67(8):1492-4. [Medline].

Lavi R, Rowe JM, Avivi I. Traumatic vs. atraumatic 22 G needle for therapeutic and diagnostic lumbar puncture in the hematologic patient: a prospective clinical trial. Haematologica. 2007 Jul. 92(7):1007-8. [Medline].

Tung CE, So YT, Lansberg MG. Cost comparison between the atraumatic and cutting lumbar puncture needles. Neurology. 2012 Jan 10. 78(2):109-13. Epub 2011 Dec 28.

Spriggs DA, Burn DJ, French J, et al. Is bed rest useful after diagnostic lumbar puncture?. Postgrad Med J. 1992 Jul. 68(801):581-3. [Medline].

Ebinger F, Kosel C, Pietz J, Rating D. Strict bed rest following lumbar puncture in children and adolescents is of no benefit. Neurology. 2004 Mar 23. 62(6):1003-5. [Medline].

Teece S, Crawford I. Towards evidence based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Bed rest after lumbar puncture. Emerg Med J. 2002 Sep. 19(5):432-3. [Medline].

Ahmed SV, Jayawarna C, Jude E. Post lumbar puncture headache: diagnosis and management. Postgrad Med J. 2006 Nov. 82(973):713-6. [Medline].

Kim HJ, Cho YJ, Cho JY, Lee DH, Hong KS. Acute subdural hematoma following spinal cerebrospinal fluid drainage in a patient with freezing of gait. J Clin Neurol. 2009 Jun. 5(2):95-6. [Medline]. [Full Text].

Lenelle L, Lahaye-Goffart B, Dewandre PY, Brichant JF. [Post-dural puncture headache: treatment and prevention]. Rev Med Liege. 2011 Nov. 66(11):575-80. [Article in French].

Majd SA, Pourfarzam S, Ghasemi H, Yarmohammadi ME, Davati A, Jaberian M. Evaluation of pre lumbar puncture position on post lumbar puncture headache. J Res Med Sci. 2011 Mar. 16(3):282-6.

Aronson PL, Zonfrillo MR. Epidural cerebrospinal fluid collection after lumbar puncture. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2009 Jul. 25(7):467-8. [Medline].

Hatfield MK, Handrich SJ, Willis JA, Beres RA, Zaleski GX. Blood patch rates after lumbar puncture with Whitacre versus Quincke 22- and 20-gauge spinal needles. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Jun. 190(6):1686-9. [Medline].

Avery RA, Mistry RD, Shah SS, Boswinkel J, Huh JW, Ruppe MD, et al. Patient Position During Lumbar Puncture has no Meaningful Effect on Cerebrospinal Opening Pressure in Children. J Child Neurol. 2010 Feb 22. [Medline].

Lee LC, Sennett M, Erickson JM. Prevention and management of post-lumbar puncture headache in pediatric oncology patients. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs. 2007 Jul-Aug. 24(4):200-7. [Medline].

Roberts JR, Hedges JR. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. 2009.

Tintinalli J, Stapczynski J. Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. 2010.

Gil Z Shlamovitz, MD, FACEP Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California; Chief Medical Information Officer, Keck Medicine of USC

Gil Z Shlamovitz, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Nirav R Shah, MD, MPH SVP and COO, Kaiser Permanente Southern California

Nirav R Shah, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, New York Academy of Medicine, Society of General Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Helmi L Lutsep, MD Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine; Associate Director, OHSU Stroke Center

Helmi L Lutsep, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Stroke Association

Disclosure: Medscape Neurology Editorial Advisory Board for: Stroke Adjudication Committee, CREST2; Executive Committee for the NINDS-funded DEFUSE3 Trial; Physician Advisory Board for Coherex Medical.

Andrew K Chang, MD Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center

Andrew K Chang, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Luis M Lovato, MD Associate Clinical Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine; Director of Critical Care, Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Luis M Lovato, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Lars Grimm with the literature review and referencing for this article.

Lumbar Puncture

Research & References of Lumbar Puncture|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us