Ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture in obese patients.

The use of ultrasound to mark landmarks for diagnostic lumbar puncture has been described in emergency medicine as well as in the anesthesia literature. One of the most difficult scenarios arises when obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30 present to an acute care setting, such as the emergency department or intensive care unit and require diagnostic LP. This article discusses lumbar puncture in patients with a high BMI.