Need For a Proper Lumbar Puncture Kit

A medical facility or a clinic undertaking various emergency procedures needs to be well equipped. While there are certain devices that happen to be common and often found in walk-in clinics as well, specialized equipment need to be purchased with care to avoid risking the life of the patient. Contacting the top manufacturers and dealers of precise, medical equipment that meets the FDA standards is a necessity that cannot be avoided at any cost. The hospital authorities as well as the medical professionals need to be aware of recent developments that would help them to source the right equipment without delay.

The lumbar puncture kit for instance is a tray that is a must have in every ER and medical facilities that treat patients with neurological disorders. It happens to be specialized procedure for retrieving the cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal cord of the patient. It is usually performed for diagnosing certain conditions such as meningitis or hemorrhage just below the brain. However, it might also be used to treat pseudotumor cerebri. Specialists have also been known to inject anesthetics or chemotherapy drugs via this route.

The puncture should never be attempted without a thorough neurological examination though. The specialist is likely to go on with the lumbar puncture by means of a specified tray that should have the required components ready for use.

Components of the lumbar puncture tray

• A customized tray along with a number of drapes made of paper that is utilized for creating a 100% sterile field.


• Quinke spinal cutting needles that comes with a clear hub through which the drawn CSF fluid can be seen clearly


• A stylet for the needle that helps to keep the resultant tearing of the tissue to minimum


• There are multiple tube holders within the tray. This helps to avoiding spillage of the CSF samples retrieved from the patient via lumbar puncture.


• Four separate vials that can be closed tightly by means of captive tops. Each of the vials are numbered and marked clearly to indicate the measurement in mL


• The vials can be snapped close easily without having to use both hands simultaneously. This helps I saving time during the delicate procedure


• A number of gauge needles ranging from 1 to 15 inch.

The importance of carrying out a foolproof lumbar puncture cannot be overemphasized though. While the expertise of the professional happens to be the primary concern during the procedure, low quality equipment or an incomplete lumbar kit is likely to accentuate the risks to the patient as well.

Associated Risks

• Headache- A number of people experience headache after the procedure has been carried out. However, it is sure to abate within a few hours, never lasting for more than a week.


• Back Pain- The patient is likely to feel an ache or mild pain in the lower pain after the lumbar puncture.


• Bleeding- Improper technique may cause bleeding at the pint of insertion

The use of a proper 100 mL syringe is also essential to evade the dangers of misconnections during enteral feeding.