0 the act of putting a needle between the bones of the lower back in order to remove fluid for testing, or to reduce pressure in the head or back:
Time for a lumbar puncture was estimated to be fifteen minutes for a pediatrician and fortyfive minutes for a nurse.
Serious bacterial infections in febrile infants and children selected for lumbar puncture.
A lumbar puncture had actually been performed in 256 children (71%); 217 children had been hospitalized (60%).
Two had a negative lumbar puncture and all three were treated with penicillin.
If lumbar puncture is refused or impractical, then the patient should be considered for empirical treatment.
If there has been no previous therapy, further investigation by lumbar puncture should be considered, or empirical treatment for neurosyphilis offered.
If diagnostic uncertainty remains, may need to perform lumbar puncture (to help exclude encephalitis or meningitis).
Results of a lumbar puncture test were negative.
