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Atraumatic versus traumatic lumbar puncture needles: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Siddharth Nath1, Jetan H Badhiwala2, Waleed Alhazzani3
1Division of Neurosurgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
BMJ Open
|April 2, 2017
Summary
This systematic review compares atraumatic and traumatic needles for lumbar puncture. Atraumatic needles may reduce post-lumbar puncture headaches, a common complication.
Area of Science:
- Medical procedures
- Neurology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Lumbar puncture is a common diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.
- Post-lumbar puncture headache is a frequent complication, causing patient discomfort.
- Needle design may influence headache incidence, with atraumatic needles potentially reducing risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review evidence comparing atraumatic and traumatic lumbar puncture needles.
- To assess the impact of needle design on clinical outcomes, particularly headache incidence.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review including RCTs and observational studies, with no language restrictions.
- Searches across multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, etc.) and grey literature.
- Data abstraction and quality assessment by three independent reviewers; meta-analysis of outcomes.
Main Results:
- The review will compare incidence of postdural puncture headache, backache, and success rates.
- Pooled estimates, relative risks, and weighted mean differences will be calculated.
- Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will explore heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- This review will provide a comprehensive assessment of atraumatic lumbar puncture needles.
- Findings will inform clinical practice regarding needle selection to minimize complications.
- Results will be disseminated through conferences and peer-reviewed publication.