170  Did the atraumatic lumbar puncture needle campaign have any effect?. Issue 6 (27th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adegboyega, Gideon; Lobo, Rhannon; Alsousa, Ines; Salman, Reem; Lobo, Sean; Uppal, Encarl; Ali, Shair; Schmierer, Klaus; Giovannoni, Gavin
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 93:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: A62
• Page End: A62
• Publication Date: 2022-05-27
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-ABN.199
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To assess the impact of a national atraumatic lumbar puncture needle campaign on lumbar puncture needle usage across the United Kingdom. The campaign commenced in 2015, to increase usage of atraumatic needles to reduce complications associated with traumatic needles. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional audit Methods: We requested procurement orders from all regional neuroscience centres in the United Kingdom, through freedom of information (FOI) requests to identify their lumbar puncture needle purchases over a four-year period (2015–2018). Of all sites, 20 centres provided usable datasets. Product codes were cross correlated to identify the type of lumbar puncture needle used. The procurement orders were used as a surrogate marker for lumbar puncture needle usage and to calculate a ratio of atraumatic: traumatic needles. Results: In total we analysed 739, 209 procurement orders over the four-year period. The Atraumatic/Traumatic needle ratio was 0.244 ± 0.039 in 2015 and increased to 0.276 ± 0.046 in 2016 (p=0.05), with a subsequent decrease in 2017 to 0.252 ±0.042 (p=0.37) and 2018 to 0.256 ± 0.037 (p=0.93). Conclusions: Despite the increase between 2015 and 2016, the impact of the atraumatic lumbar puncture needle campaign has been marginal. Further efforts will be needed to effect a change in the 'needle culture' across neuroscience centres. Aside from the campaigning to highlight reduced complications and the cost-effectiveness of atraumatic needles, further initiatives such as a Delphi process should be considered. gideon: [e-mail] 117