Ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture in obese patients

Robert Strony

doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2010.07.002

Ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture in obese patients

Crit Care Clin. 2010 Oct;26(4):661-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2010.07.002.

Author

Robert Strony¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, 100 North Academy Avenue, Danville, PA 17822, USA. rjstrony@geisinger.edu

PMID: 20970053
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2010.07.002

Abstract

The use of ultrasound to mark landmarks for diagnostic lumbar puncture has been described in emergency medicine as well as in the anesthesia literature. One of the most difficult scenarios arises when obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30 present to an acute care setting, such as the emergency department or intensive care unit and require diagnostic LP. This article discusses lumbar puncture in patients with a high BMI.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Emergency Treatment
Humans
Lumbosacral Region / anatomy & histology*
Lumbosacral Region / diagnostic imaging
Obesity*
Spinal Puncture / methods*
Ultrasonography, Interventional / methods*