![]() ![]() Side effects of a lumbar punctureĪ lumbar puncture is generally a safe procedure and serious side effects are uncommon. Some laboratory test results are available within a couple of hours in an emergency. You may need to wait for at least 48 hours for the full results. Serious problems from a lumbar puncture are not common. The doctor or nurse who performs the lumbar puncture can often tell you some of the results straight away and explain what they mean. You'll be able to go home the same day if you feel well enough, but you would not be able to drive yourself home. Remove the needle once the procedure is finished and apply a small plaster or dressing.Ī lumbar puncture takes around 30 to 45 minutes, but you'll need to stay lying down at the hospital for at least another hour while the nurses monitor you.This should not be painful, but you may feel some pressure. Insert a thin needle through the skin, between 2 bones in the lower part of your spine.Children may also be given medicine to help them relax and keep still. Clean your skin and numb the area with local anaesthetic (you'll be awake during the procedure).You normally lie on your side, with your legs pulled up and your chin tucked in you'll usually need to undress and change into a hospital gown before the procedure – you might also want to use the toilet.Therefore, sitting or standing often makes the headache worse. If you sit up, the pressure around your brain is reduced even more. This causes a typical headache, which is called a post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). you can eat, drink and take medicine as normal If too much fluid leaks out through the hole in the dura, the pressure in the rest of the fluid around the brain is reduced.let the hospital know if you're taking blood-thinning medicine (anticoagulants) – such as warfarin.you may have a CT scan or MRI scan – to make sure you need the lumbar puncture and it's safe to have one. ![]() Your doctor or nurse should explain what's going to happen and why you need a lumbar puncture. remove some fluid to reduce pressure in the skull or spine.inject a spinal anaesthetic – to numb the lower part of your body before an operation.inject medicine – such as painkillers, antibiotics or chemotherapy.take a sample of fluid from your spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) or measure the fluid's pressure – to help diagnose a condition.You may have a mild headache for a day or two. It's carried out in hospital by a doctor or specialist nurse. You may feel tired, and your back may be sore where the needle went in (the puncture site). It should not be painful, but you may have a headache and some back pain for a few days. A lumbar puncture is where a thin needle is inserted between the bones in your lower spine. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |