TerminatedNot Applicable

Does Static Ultrasound-Preview Reduce the Incidence of Difficult Lumbar Puncture?

Stopped: We could not get physicians in the ED to enroll patients.

United States60 participantsStarted 2004-12

Plain-language summary

Does the use of ultrasound facilitate a lumbar puncture by reducing the number of difficult and traumatic lumbar punctures?

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age greater than 18 * Clinical need for lumbar puncture * Unable to visualize spine in position for the lumbar puncture Exclusion Criteria: * Able to visualize the spinous processes

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

3 or more needle sticks to successfully complete lumbar puncture

Timeframe: We collect the data immediately

Greater than 400 red blood cells in the cerebral spinal fluid

Timeframe: Data is obtained within 1 hour when the lab reports the results of the CSF analysis

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00317382

SponsorSt. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2005-10

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Headache trials

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.