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Meningitis

Prevalence
Causes
Clinical features
Differential Diagnosis
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Investigations

Lumbar puncture a  

Replace the stylet before withdrawing the needle. a

Why?

Replacing the stylet reduces post-lumbar puncture headache

Patient Treatment Comparison Outcome CER RRR
(95% CI)
NNT
(95% CI)
adult undergoing lumbar puncture a   Replacing stylet No replacement post-lumbar puncture headache
at 7 days
16% 69%
(47% to 82%)
9
(6 to 15)


Expiry date: January 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Authors   RS   Phillips , C   Ball
Reviewer   B   Davis
CAT Writers   C   Ball , RS   Phillips , C   Wotton