What diseases are diagnosed by lumbar puncture?
A lumbar puncture procedure may be helpful in diagnosing many diseases and disorders, including:
- Meningitis.
- Encephalitis.
- 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.
- Myelitis.
- Neurosyphilis.
Why is L3 and L4 used for lumbar puncture?
The insertion of a needle under local anaesthetic requires careful positioning to prevent injury to the spinal cord. Since the spinal cord ends as a solid structure around the level of the second lumbar vertebra (L2) the insertion of a needle must be below this point, usually between L3 and L4 (Fig 2).
Where is a lumbar puncture done for meningitis?
Inserting the Lumbar Puncture Needle The needle is typically placed between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae. Usually, the patient will feel some pressure when the needle is inserted through the skin and a brief moment of discomfort as the needle penetrates the ligament that surrounds the spinal canal.
What do lumbar punctures test for?
A lumbar puncture can help diagnose serious infections, such as meningitis; other disorders of the central nervous system, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis; or cancers of the brain or spinal cord.
Which is the best way to position a patient for lumbar puncture?
The preferred position is lying on their side (left lateral) with the patients legs flexed at the knee and pulled in towards their chest, and upper thorax curved forward in an almost foetal position.
At what level lumbar puncture is done and why?
In approximately 94% of individuals the spinal cord terminates at the level of the L1 vertebrae. In the further 6% of individuals the spinal cord can extend to the L2-L3 interspace. Therefore a lumbar puncture is generally performed at or below the L3-L4 interspace.
How long are you on bed rest after a lumbar puncture?
The duty physician advises you that the patient will require four hours bed rest after the lumbar puncture.
What kind of procedure is a lumbar puncture?
A lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) is a fluoroscopic procedure used to collect and look at the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. • Cancers of the brain or spinal cord. Sometimes doctors use lumbar puncture to inject anesthetic medications or chemotherapy drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid.
When is the last lumbar puncture literature review?
Literature review current through: Feb 2021. | This topic last updated: Jul 02, 2018. Lumbar puncture (LP) with examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an important diagnostic tool for a variety of infectious and noninfectious neurologic conditions.
Do you lie on your side during a lumbar puncture?
Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) Overview. Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) During a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) procedure, you typically lie on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest.
How is a lumbar puncture used to diagnose CSF?
Most of the disorders of the central nervous system are diagnosed in relation to the changes in the composition and dynamics of the CSF. A lumbar puncture may also be used to measure CSF, instill medications, or introduce contrast medium into the spinal canal.