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should you need a lumbar puncture to introduce dye or take fluid for diagnostic or
treatment purposes, it is good to know that the smaller the needle the less the chance for a post-puncture headache. They are extremely rare when pediatric sized needles are used. Just saw a recent article--let me know if you need it. Depending on how much they need to take/drain, smaller needles are a bit less practical as it takes a bit longer to get the same amount of fluid through a smaller needle (think of a garden hose vs. a fire department hose--the one with the larger diameter can transport more liquid faster). Since patient comfort should outweigh a tiny amount of additional time, inform those you know who need these procedures to ask--it is seldom offered. The easiest way is to say: if you yourself needed this procedure what size needle would you want--a pediatric or an adult. Sometimes they have to special order the needle from the hospital stores and it takes a few more minutes. (I had dye injected for imaging studies on two occasions and had to ask just these questions)
Here are two articles on IT herceptin--the latest(hot-off-the-press) I do not yet have access to:
1: Lancet Oncol. 2006 Nov;7(11):888. Links
Care with intrathecal trastuzumab.
Siderov J.
PMID: 17081914 [PubMed - in process]
Related Links
Application of intrathecal trastuzumab (Herceptintrade mark) for treatment of meningeal carcinomatosis in HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.[Oncol Rep. 2006]
Hope this helps!
PS I have very little internet access at the moment(visiting for the holidays), so sorry not to post more info on this
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