Lumbar puncture

This procedure should be familiar to you on numerous medical serials and films. Lumbar puncture, real doctors, just like fictitious, are taken quite often. This is one of the most important procedures that can be carried out both for medical and research purposes.

Indications and contraindications for lumbar puncture?

Lumbar puncture is sometimes called a spinal or lumbar puncture. It is performed for the purpose of medication or for the withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid, a cerebrospinal fluid that constantly circulates throughout the body. Liqvor has an influence on the state of the nervous system, is responsible for the metabolic processes that occur between the blood and the brain. The study of fluid helps to accurately diagnose and select the most appropriate treatment.

Basically lumbar puncture is carried out for research purposes. It is assigned in the following cases:

1. Puncture is a very important test for meningitis . This disease is the consequence of the infection. With the help of lumbar puncture it is possible to reliably determine the true cause of the disease.
2. The procedure is necessary to determine bleeding.
3. A lumbar puncture is prescribed for hydrocephalus.
4. Sometimes this procedure diagnoses tuberculosis and influenza.
5. Lumbar puncture is able to confirm or deny the presence of oncology.
6. In some cases, only a lumbar puncture can detect an intervertebral hernia.

In addition, the lumbar puncture is necessary to measure pressure in the canal of the spinal cord, the administration of antibiotics or antiseptic drugs, the treatment of leukemia and some other problems associated with diseases of the central nervous system (including malignant tumors).

Along with the indications for lumbar puncture, there are also contraindications:

1. Research can harm people with trauma and brain edema.
2. If the patient suffers from an infection that affects the lumbar region, it is best to temporarily abstain from a puncture.
3. You can not do lumbar puncture to people with occlusive hydrocephalus.
4. Another contraindication is traumatic shock.

Preparation for lumbar puncture and possible complications after the procedure

The procedure does not require special preparation. The only physical effort that is required from the patient is a bladder emptying. The rest is formal. You must:

1. Warn doctor if you are taking (or have taken in the recent past) any medications.
2. To tell about all chronic and transferred diseases.
3. Notify of pregnancy or desire to have a baby soon.

The doctor, in turn, will offer to sign a special agreement.

The needle for lumbar puncture is inserted into the pre-treated and marker-designated place (usually in the lower back). As soon as the needle reaches the required depth, fluid begins to flow from it, part of which will be required for later investigation. At this stage, a pressure gauge that measures the fluid pressure can be connected. In general, the puncture takes no more than half an hour. To survive it is not necessary: ​​the cerebrospinal fluid is produced two or three times a day, and therefore the amount of liquid taken for analysis will recover very quickly.

Although this is an outpatient procedure, experts recommend some time after the lumbar puncture to observe the regimen. The patient after a lumbar puncture is better to lie in peace for several hours. Otherwise, there may be a headache. In some cases bleeding and infection appear as complications. After an incorrectly taken puncture, small tumors can develop in the canal of the spine, developing with age and delivering a lot of discomfort.