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Author Notes:

Patricia A. Hudgins, MD, FACR, Emory University Hospital, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322; e-mail: phudgin@emory.edu

Subject:

Keywords:

  • Science & Technology
  • Life Sciences & Biomedicine
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Neurosciences & Neurology
  • SPONTANEOUS INTRACRANIAL HYPOTENSION
  • BODY-MASS INDEX
  • PATIENT
  • OBESITY
  • ENHANCEMENT
  • PREVALENCE
  • PRESSURE
  • CT

Difficult Lumbar Puncture: Pitfalls and Tips from the Trenches

Tools:

Journal Title:

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY

Volume:

Volume 38, Number 7

Publisher:

, Pages 1276-1283

Type of Work:

Article | Final Publisher PDF

Abstract:

Summary: Lumbar puncture has, for many years, been the responsibility of the internal medicine physician or the neurologist. As more patients have undergone spine surgery and with the current increase in body mass index of the general population, the radiologist has been consulted with increasing frequency to perform lumbar puncture with fluoroscopic guidance. Radiology, in fact, is now the dominant overall provider of lumbar puncture procedures. The procedure is more difficult when the needle length increases, and if fluoroscopy is used, landmarks are more difficult to visualize with increasing subcutaneous fat. Our goal with this review was to describe our techniques for lumbar puncture in the difficult patient, with emphasis on using fluoroscopy in the obese patient and to suggest maneuvers that might make the procedure easier. Combining our experience from performing these procedures on an obese population, we would like to share our tips, especially with trainees early in their career.

Copyright information:

© 2017 by American Journal of Neuroradiology

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