Gottlieb M and Long B. Acad Emerg Med 2020.
ABSTRACT
Over 350,000 lumbar punctures (LP) are performed in acute care settings each year in the United States.1 Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is one of the most common complications after an LP, occurring in approximately 11% of patients,2 with one study reporting an occurrence rate of up to 36%.3 While PDPH has been attributed to multiple factors, needle tip design has been frequently investigated as a potential cause.2 It has been suggested conventional needles may cause larger lacerations in the dural fibers compared to atraumatic needles, increasing the degree of cerebrospinal fluid leakage.4 However, it is important to determine whether needle tip design influences the rate of PDPH.
PMID:32569401 | DOI:10.1111/acem.14061