Epidemiology of lumbar punctures in hospitalized patients in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Lumbar puncture (LP) is an important technique for assessing and treating neurological symptoms. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of diagnostic lumbar punctures performed on hospitalized patients in the United States.

Methods

We analyzed data from the 2010 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the National Emergency Department Survey (NEDS). We included patients treated in the Emergency Department (ED) as well as those admitted to an inpatient bed through the ED. We identified patients undergoing LPs from ICD-9 procedural code 03.31 and CPT code 62270. We generated nationally weighted estimates of the total number of LPs. We also assessed patient and hospital characteristics of cases undergoing LP.

Results

Of an estimated 135 mi

SUBMITTER: Vickers A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6292631 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature