![]() ![]() While excessive bleeding rarely occurs, it is more common in patients who take blood thinning medication so it is essential that patients inform their physicians if this is the case. A small percentage of patients experience an allergic reaction to the anesthesia or an infection after a lumbar puncture. In rare instances, a headache following the lumbar puncture does not resolve, signaling a CSF leak that must be treated. ![]() While a lumbar puncture is a common procedure and considered very safe, like all invasive procedures, it is at times associated with complications. For the third of all patients who experience the post-lumbar puncture headache, it can be very troublesome, but normally there is no residual damage of any kind. There may be some temporary after effects of the puncture, including a bloody discharge from the site, tenderness or pain in the lower back that may extend into the back of the legs, and a painful spinal headache. Patients are advised to lie flat for a period of time after the procedure and to avoid any strenuous activity for at least 24 hours. Once it has been completed, the targeted area is cleaned and covered with a bandage. Some patients may experience minor discomfort during the procedure which usually takes under an hour. After an anesthetic is applied, the surgeon inserts a needle between two of the patient's lumbar (lower) vertebrae in order to extract CSF for examination.ĭuring the procedure, a manometer, a device used to measure the internal pressure of the CSF, is attached to the needle and the patient may be asked to straighten slightly so that the most accurate pressure reading may be obtained. The patient is usually positioned lying on the side with the knees drawn up, or occasionally, sitting in a chair and leaning forward. The Lumbar Puncture ProcedureĪ lumbar puncture procedure may be performed in the doctor's office, an outpatient surgical setting or a hospital. ![]() These diseases include: meningitis, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome and certain cancers. Analysis of CSF can help detect the presence or absence of several serious diseases. When a lumbar puncture is performed for diagnostic purposes, a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord, is withdrawn from the lower portion of the spine for analysis. A lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap, is most often performed as a diagnostic procedure, but may also be performed as a means to administer anesthetic or chemotherapy medications. ![]()
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