Lumbar puncture position in infants—a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

To analyze the optimal lumbar puncture position in infants. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Infants (age < 1 year). December 2022 in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials focusing on lumbar puncture positions were included. Other lumbar puncture position than standard lateral decubitus position. First puncture success and overall success rate. Secondary outcome was desaturation during puncture and procedure-related harms. Risk of bias 2.0 assessment was performed. Outcomes are reported as risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We screened 225 abstracts, and six studies were included. Four studies compared sitting position, one study head elevated lateral position, and one study prone position to lateral position. Risk of bias was high in two studies. First puncture success rate in sitting position (RR 1.00, CI: 0.78–1.18; 2 studies) and overall success rate in sitting position were similar to lateral position (RR 0.97, CI: 0.87–1.17; 3 studies). First attempt success rate was higher in elevated lateral position (RR 1.48, CI: 1.14–1.92; 1 study) and in prone position (RR 1.09, CI: 1.00–1.17; 1 study). Conclusion: Sitting position seems to be equally effective in terms of first attempt and overall success in lumbar puncture than standard lateral position. Elevated lateral position and prone positions had better first attempt success than standard lateral position, but these were assessed only in one study each and thus further studies in these positions are needed. Trial registration: This review was registered in PROSPERO. ID: CRD42022382953.What is Known:• Success rate in lumbar puncture has been poor and first attempt success rate has varied between 50 to 80% in literature.• Optimal lumbar puncture positions for infants have been debated between sitting and lateral decubitus position mostly.What is New:• This is the first meta-analysis focused on lumbar puncture positions in infants, and it found that sitting position was equal to standard lateral position.• Prone position and head elevated lateral positions had higher first puncture success rates, but these were assessed both only in one study, which creates uncertainty to the finding.