Ultrasound-Assisted Lumbar Puncture in Children

Emergency Physician Performed Ultrasound-Assisted Lumbar Puncture in a Pediatric Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to determine if emergency physician performed ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture improves first-time success rates in a pediatric population. This will be done by comparison with current landmark-based approach to the procedure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient less than 19 years of age
• Requiring a lumbar puncture as part of their work-up, as determined by the treating pediatric emergency physician.

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Patients with known spine or spinal cord abnormalities

  • Patients with ventricular shunts
  • Patients deemed too unstable to have procedure performed
  • Patients at risk for significant bleeding (coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, etc)
  • Parents unable to give consent or patients unable to assent for an acute reason