These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: [Less headache following lumbar puncture with the use of an atraumatic needle; double-blind randomized study].
    Author: Kleyweg RP, Hertzberger LI, Carbaat PA.
    Journal: Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd; 1995 Feb 04; 139(5):232-4. PubMed ID: 7854485.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference in frequency of headache after lumbar puncture with a standard needle or an atraumatic needle. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised double blind study. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Merwedeziekenhuis, Dordrecht. METHOD: One hundred sequential patients were randomised to lumbar puncture with a 'standard needle' (20 gauge) or an 'atraumatic needle' (pencil point, 22 gauge). The patients were interviewed one week later. Patient and interviewer were unaware of the needle used. RESULTS: After puncture with the standard needle 32% of the patients suffered from postlumbar puncture headache, after use of the atraumatic needle 6% (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval of the difference: 0.11-0.40). Postpuncture complaints appeared to be less severe after puncture with the atraumatic needle. CONCLUSION: In comparison with a standard needle, there is significantly less postpuncture headache after lumbar puncture with an atraumatic needle.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]