What medical procedure is also referred to as a lumbar puncture?
Lumbar puncture air or some other gas via the lumbar puncture in order to enhance the appearance of certain areas of the brain on plain radiographs. Lumbar puncture Lumbar puncture (LP), also known as a spinal tap, is a medical procedure in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canal, most commonly to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic testing. The main reason for a lumbar puncture is to help diagnose diseases of the central nervous system, including the brain and spine. Examples of these conditions include meningitis and subarachnoid hemorrhage. It may also be used therapeutically in some conditions. Increased
Lumbar puncture puncture cannot be performed safely (for example due to a severe bleeding tendency). It is regarded as a safe procedure, but post-dural-puncture headache is a common side effect. The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia using a sterile technique. A hypodermic needle is used to access the subarachnoid space and fluid collected. Fluid may be sent for biochemical, microbiological, and cytological analysis. Lumbar puncture was first introduced in 1891 by the German physician Heinrich Quincke. The reason for a lumbar puncture may be to make a diagnosis or to treat a disease. The chief diagnostic indications of lumbar puncture