How does the doctor prepare the puncture?

Whether preparation is necessary prior to a puncture depends on the type of procedure. In general, a hygienic procedure is indicated to prevent infection. Therefore, the puncture area must be disinfected in advance.

Depending on the destination of the puncture, special positioning may be necessary (e.g. sitting and bent over at the front for brain water puncture). The doctor performing the procedure will give the patient appropriate instructions. In some cases, a local anesthetic is injected under the skin before the actual puncture. Prior to the puncture of organs such as the liver, blood coagulation values must be checked.

How does a puncture work?

The general procedure of a puncture is that the puncture site is disinfected after positioning the patient in a certain position, if necessary. Depending on the type of puncture, the skin area is then numbed by placing a syringe. During the procedure it is important that the patient remains as still as possible and follows the doctor’s instructions.

If the liver or kidney is punctured, for example, special breathing maneuvers may be necessary. If deeper lying organs or areas are punctured, this may be done under visual control using ultrasound or computer tomography. Further detailed information regarding the specific procedure of a puncture is given to the patient by the doctor who will perform it.

The evaluation of the intervention

The evaluation of a puncture is primarily based on which structure was punctured and with which goal. In the case of a therapeutic puncture, i.e. when pus or fluid accumulations are drained, for example, the result is often visible immediately after the procedure. An example would be a patient who complains of shortness of breath due to water in the pleural cavity.

After a successful puncture of the effusion, breathing is usually relieved immediately. In the case of a puncture performed for diagnostic purposes, the tissue or fluid removed is evaluated.Depending on the problem, this can be done, for example, in a laboratory, a microbiological or a pathological institute. As soon as the samples have been evaluated, the treating physician is informed, who classifies them together with the other patient findings and develops the further procedure.