Rates of Epidural Blood Patch following Lumbar Puncture Comparing Atraumatic versus Bevel-Tip Needles Stratified for Body Mass Index

• DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7397
• Publication Date: 2022-01-13T16:45:14Z
• Authors: J.T. Philip; M.A. Flores; R.D. Beegle; S.C. Dodson; S.A. Messina; J.V. Murray
• Keywords: Epidural Blood Patch; Bevel; Pencil (optics)

Postdural puncture headache, a known complication of lumbar puncture, typically resolves with conservative management. Symptoms persist in minority patients, necessitating an epidural blood patch. One method decreasing rates postdural headache is using atraumatic, pencil-point needles rather than bevel-tip needles. To the best our knowledge, this first study comparing patch between pencil- and subgroup analysis based on body mass index.This single-institution retrospective identified 4435 patients recorded index who underwent 22-ga pencil-tip Whitacre needle, 20-ga Quincke or needle. The groups were stratified by index. We compared versus Fischer exact test χ2 test.Postdural was statistically more likely needle all (P < .001) overweight = .03) obese populations In normal population, there no significant difference when .12). There healthy .70), .69), .44).Using resulted lower patients. Subgroup demonstrated populations, but not