This states that you understand the procedure and its risks, and give your permission for it. Many spinal taps are done in the emergency department. Some parents choose to be in the room with their child during the spinal tap, while others are more comfortable in a waiting area.
You can ask the doctor if it is OK for you to stay. The spinal cord extends from the lower part of the brain down to the upper lumbar area. A spinal tap is done in the lower lumbar area, below the point where the spinal cord ends.
So, the risk of harming the spinal cord is avoided. A spinal tap is not surgery. No stitches or long recovery time are needed. Someone getting a spinal tap might be awake, or may get medicine to help them relax or sleep during the test. The medicine can be given by mouth, into the nose, or through an IV. Patients are positioned with their back curved so the spaces between the vertebrae are as wide as possible. This makes it easier for the doctor to insert the needle.
Older children may be asked to either sit on an exam table while leaning over with their head on a pillow or lie on their side.
Infants and younger children are placed on their sides with their knees near their chin. They will be held in this position during the test. Then, the doctor cleans the area where the spinal needle will go in, and might put a cream on the skin before using a tiny needle to numb the area. The cream eases the discomfort of the needle, although the injection may still burn a little.
After recovery, you may be taken to your hospital room or discharged to your home. If you go home, usually your healthcare provider will advise you to rest for the remainder of the day.
Once you are at home, notify your provider of any abnormalities, such as:. If the headaches persist for more than a few hours after the procedure, or when you change positions, contact the neuroradiology team with the phone number provided on your discharge instructions.
You may be instructed to limit your activity for 24 hours following the procedure. Your healthcare provider may give you other specific instructions about what you should do after a lumbar puncture. Health Home Treatments, Tests and Therapies. Why might I need a lumbar puncture? A lumbar puncture procedure may be helpful in diagnosing many diseases and disorders, including: Meningitis. Certain cancers involving the brain and spinal cord Bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it subarachnoid space Reye syndrome.
An inflammation of the spinal cord or bone marrow. These include: Spinal anesthetics before a surgical procedure Contrast dye for X-ray studies - for example, myelography Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to recommend a lumbar puncture. Pseudotumor Cerebri Ashley's Story.
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What are the risks of a lumbar puncture? Because this procedure involves the spinal cord and brain, the following complications may occur: A small amount of CSF can leak from the needle insertion site.
This can cause headaches after the procedure. If the leak continues, your headache can be severe. Short-term numbness of the legs or lower back pain may be experienced. How do I prepare for a lumbar puncture? Please inform the neuroradiology physician if: You are on antibiotics - you may need to wait to do the procedure if currently on antibiotics for an in infection in your blood.
If you have an active infection or fever, your procedure may need to be rescheduled. Arrive one hour prior to the scheduled procedure time for check-in and to be prepped for the procedure. Please note: You will be unable to drive for 24 hours after the procedure. If you are taking a cab or using public transportation, you need to bring a friend or family member to accompany you after the procedure to your home or hotel. A cab or public transportation driver is not considered an escort.
What happens during a lumbar puncture? It is most often done in the operating room. A hole is drilled in the skull, and a needle is inserted directly into one of the brain's ventricles.
How to Prepare for the Test. How the Test will Feel. Why the Test is Performed. What Abnormal Results Mean. Decreased protein is a sign of rapid CSF production. Decreased CSF glucose may be due to hypoglycemia low blood sugar , bacterial or fungal infection such as meningitis , tuberculosis, or certain other types of meningitis.
Red blood cells in the CSF sample may be a sign of bleeding into the spinal fluid or the result of a traumatic lumbar puncture. Additional conditions under which the test may be performed: Chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy Dementia due to metabolic causes Encephalitis Epilepsy Febrile seizure children Generalized tonic-clonic seizure Hydrocephalus Inhalation anthrax Normal pressure hydrocephalus NPH Pituitary tumor Reye syndrome.
Risks of lumbar puncture include: Bleeding into the spinal canal or around the brain subdural hematomas. Discomfort during the test. Headache after the test that can last a few hours or days. It may be helpful to drink caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea or soda to help relieve the headache. If headaches last more than a few days especially when you sit, stand or walk you might have a CSF-leak. You should talk to your physician if this occurs.
Hypersensitivity allergic reaction to the anesthetic. Infection introduced by the needle going through the skin. This test is more dangerous for people with: A tumor in the back of the brain that is pressing down on the brainstem Blood clotting problems Low platelet count thrombocytopenia Individuals taking blood thinners, aspirin, clopidogrel, or other similar drugs to decrease the formation of blood clots.
Alternative Names. CSF chemistry Lumbar vertebrae. Brain Diseases Read more. Brain Tumors Read more. Encephalitis Read more. Curving your spine makes a space between your bones in the lower back. Iodine is often used for cleaning. A sterile area is maintained throughout the procedure. This reduces the risk of infection.
A numbing cream or spray is applied to your skin. Your doctor then injects anesthetic. Once the site is fully numb, your doctor inserts a thin spinal needle between two vertebrae. A special type of X-ray called fluoroscopy is sometimes used to guide the needle. First, the pressure inside the skull is measured using a manometer. Both high and low CSF pressure can be signs of certain conditions. Fluid samples are then taken through the needle. When fluid collection is complete, the needle is removed.
The puncture site is cleaned again. A bandage is applied. This reduces the risk of a headache, which is a common side effect of the procedure. In these cases, a more invasive CSF collection method that requires hospitalization might be used, such as one of the following:. CSF collection is often combined with other procedures. For example, dye might be inserted into your CSF for a myelogram.
This is an X-ray or CT scan of your brain and spine. People who take blood thinners have a heightened risk of bleeding. Lumbar puncture is extremely dangerous for people who have clotting problems such as a low platelet count, which is called thrombocytopenia. There are serious additional risks if you have a brain mass, tumor , or abscess.
These conditions put pressure on your brain stem. A lumbar puncture could then cause brain herniation to occur. This can result in brain damage or even death. Brain herniation is a shifting of structures of the brain. The condition eventually cuts off blood supply to your brain.
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