i got a spinal tap / lumbar puncture today?

Question

Are lumbar puncture and spinal tap the same thing?

Answer 1

If you have a: Specific question about the procedure or symptoms afterwards then please clarify and re-ask the question.

Answer 2

Rare: All procedures carry a risk. For that matter, driving your car is one of the riskiest things you do on a daily basis. Procedures, such as lumbar puncture, could cause bleeding or abscess formation, and could lead to paralysis. Usually there is a good reason to do it though.

Answer 3

Possible but RARE: You would have to have a major complication which is exceedingly rare and possibly related to some other underlying disprder suvh as hemophilia.

Answer 4

No: The routine lumbar puncture is done below the level of the spinal cord.

Answer 5

LP: Nope!.

Answer 6

Interesting: This is a rumor started in eastern big city ghetto environments by parents to keep their kids behaving. If you are bad, "the doctors in white coats will stick a needle in your back and paralyze you". So far, haven't seen this outcome.

Answer 7

That: Would be like getting struck by lightening. Also lp's are done below where nerves which could paralyze you run.

Answer 8

Rarely: I have seen this happen twice in the span of my medical career, both instances in which the performing physician was not aware of the patients' use of blood thinners. Hematomas formed and extended upward from the "safe" levels of lumbar puncture up to the spinal cord.

Answer 9

Diagnostic test: A lumbar puncture is a test where a needle is inserted into the spinal canal to draw out a small amount of cerebral spinal fluid for diagnostic testing purposes, such as diagnosing meningitis.

Answer 10

A diagnostic test.: A lumbar puncture usually refers to a procedure that removes a small amount of CSF from the sack that surrounds the spinal cord. It is also sometimes called a spinal tap.

Answer 11

What is the question: What is your question about lumbar puncture? It is a procedure to get spinal fluid out of the spinal column to investigate for infection, protein, blood and other tests. Can be done to evaluate for meningitis, brain hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis.

Answer 12

Fluid: Diagnostic aspiration of fluid from the space around the spinal cord. May identify certain infections, or even malignancies. If coupled with dye injection is a myelogram. If coupled with anesthetic drugs it is a " spinal " anesthetic.

Answer 13

No. : It is not harmful.

Answer 14

No.: No, it doesn't hurt the fetus.

Answer 15

Headache, bleeding: The most common side effect of a lumbar puncture is headache due to the drop in cerebrospinal fluid pressure. This normally resolves in a few days with fluids and rest, but sometimes requires a second procedure called a blood patch before it resolves. Lp can also cause bleeding and infection, although these are much more rare.

Answer 16

Head ache ,infection: Spinal headache can be severe requiring bed rest and sometimes a blood clot patch over puncture site and infection is potentially very rare but also dangerous.

Answer 17

Lumbar puncture (LP): Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bathes brain & spinal cord (cns). CSF may be abnormal in some diseases. In an lp, you are either on your side or sitting. Md feels lower back for interspace between 4th & 5th lumbar vertebrae, below end of cns. Lidocaine is injected. 3” hollow needle is inserted thru interspace & into sac holding CNS & csf. Md collects CSF (usually ~1 tsp) into 3-4 tubes. CSF sent to lab.

Answer 18

Lumbar punctrure: Fluid is removed from the spinal cord, it is also known as a spinal tap.

Answer 19

Risks : Putting someone out (ie. Anesthetising them) carries some risk. Lumbar punctures are usually well tolerated with just using some local anesthetic (numbing medicine).

Answer 20

Generally not requir: This is not typically necessary. Perhaps you could ask for IV sedation prior to the procedure if excessively anxious. Furthermore, general anesthesia may cause vasodilation which is undesireable for an lp.

i got a spinal tap / lumbar puncture today?

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