title: Fluoroscopy-Guided Lumbar Drainage of Cerebrospinal Fluid for Patients in Whom a Blind Beside Approach Is Difficult.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the rates of technical success, clinical success, and complications of fluoroscopy-guided lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of our hospital, and informed consent was waived. Ninety-six procedures on 60 consecutive patients performed July 2008 to December 2013 were evaluated. The patients were referred for the fluoroscopy-guided procedure due to failed attempts at a bedside approach, a history of lumbar surgery, difficulty cooperating, or obesity. Fluoroscopy-guided lumbar drainage procedures were performed in the lateral decubitus position with a midline puncture of L3/4 in the interspinous space. The catheter tip was positioned at the T12/L1 level, and the catheter was visualized on contrast agent-aided fluoroscopy. A standard angiography system with a rotatable C-arm was used. The definitions of technical success, clinical success, and complications were defined prior to the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The technical and clinical success rates were 99.0% (95/96) and 89.6% (86/96), respectively. The mean hospital stay for an external lumbar drain was 4.84 days. Nine cases of minor complications and eight major complications were observed, including seven cases of meningitis, and one retained catheter requiring surgical removal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluoroscopy-guided external lumbar drainage is a technically reliable procedure in difficult patients with failed attempts at a bedside procedure, history of lumbar surgery, difficulties in cooperation, or obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors.forename: Choong Guen
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors.forename: Guen Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors.forename: Heung Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057785:Catheters; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D003287:Contrast Media; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Bacterial meningitis; Clinical success; Complication; Fluoroscopic-guided lumbar drainage; Technical success