RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How to use… lumbar puncture in children
JF Archives of disease in childhood - Education & practice edition
JO Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 264
OP 271
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307600
VO 100
IS 5
A1 Peter Schulga
A1 Rosemary Grattan
A1 Craig Napier
A1 Mohamed O E Babiker
YR 2015
UL http://ep.bmj.com/content/100/5/264.abstract
AB Lumbar puncture (LP) is a useful diagnostic tool in a wide spectrum of paediatric clinical situations. A common indication is to rule out a serious intracranial infection in a febrile child. Success rate can be optimised by proper positioning, appropriate technique and enhanced operator's skill in performing the procedure. The purpose of this review is to explore the indications and contraindications for performing paediatric LP, to describe the anatomical and physiological knowledge required to maximise success rates and to describe complications and their management. We will also provide advice on requesting various cerebrospinal fluid studies, interpretation of results and clinical situations in which LP may be indicated.