Lumbar Puncture (VGH) - Vancouver Coastal Health

1 What Do I Need to Do Call your doctor if you Following the Procedure to notice any of the following: Prevent Infection? Sudden fever, chills, or stiff neck. Your clinician will place a Band-Aid on Signs of infection at the site of the the spot where the needle was placed Puncture on your back (redness, to help prevent infection. pain, pus, drainage of any kind). Headache that lasts for more than Keep the bandaid dry for the first night. You may shower or bathe the 3 days or keeps getting worse or Lumbar Puncture next day. Remove the bandaid from makes it hard for you do to your your back the morning after the normal activities. Lumbar Puncture . Do not leave the Loss of strength or feeling in your legs. bandaid on any longer. Do not put Problems passing urine. on another bandaid. Follow up appointment in _____ days/weeks Vancouver General Hospital Gordon and Leslie Diamond For more copies, go online at or email and quote Catalogue No.

2 Health Care Centre Vancouver Coastal Health , November 2011 899 West 12th Avenue The information in this document is intended solely for the Vancouver BC V5Z 1M9. person to whom it was given by the Health care team. Tel: 604-875-4111. What Is Lumbar Puncture ? What Happens During the After the Lumbar Puncture A Lumbar Puncture (LP, or Spinal Procedure? After the procedure, you may or Tap) is the insertion of a needle into The LP will be done at your bedside, may not be asked to stay flat in bed the Lumbar region (lower back). The or at a clinic. for 30 to 60 minutes. needle goes into a space below the You will be checked frequently after spinal cord to withdraw a sample of You will be positioned at the edge of the bed on your side with your the procedure by a nurse. cerebral spinal fluid or to give spinal medications.

3 Knees drawn up. This position You may be up and around after helps to widen the space between you go home but should not do any the bones of the spine allowing the strenuous activities such as lifting, How Do I Prepare for a Lumbar needle to be inserted more easily. jogging, heavy chores at home or Puncture ? The LP may sometimes be done in a at work. sitting position. While most people do not have a No preparation is necessary, but your clinician should discuss the procedure Your lower back will be cleansed headache after a Lumbar Puncture , beforehand and have you sign a consent with an antiseptic solution. You 15% to 20% will experience some form before the procedure is done. will then feel a small pinprick as headache. The headache usually the doctor injects a small amount happens only when you are sitting of freezing.

4 Or standing. What Are the Risks Associated If you do have a headache, simply Once the area is frozen, the doctor With This Procedure? will insert a needle into the space lie down flat. If the headache The procedure is very safe, and in the Lumbar region, and will returns when you stand up, lie back serious side effects are rare. Some either collect a small amount of down. In most cases the headache complications can occur. fluid (about 2 teaspoons or 10ml) will go away in 2 to 3 days. or inject a medication depending on Drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear You will feel some discomfort as the lo- the reason for your LP. cal anesthesia is injected over the site. fluid each day (water, apple You may feel some pressure as the juice, cranberry juice, ginger ale, Another common side effect is a needle is inserted.)

5 The needle will etc.). This may help to prevent a temporary headache, and your then be removed and a bandaid will headache and will help relieve a clinician may have you lie on your be applied to the site. headache if you do have one. back for 1 to 2 hours after the procedure to lessen the chance of This procedure requires You may take pain pills if you wish. getting this effect. approximately 15-20 minutes. Use whatever pills you normally use, such as Tylenol. Avoid Other possible complications are very medications such as Aspirin, or rare and include infection, bleeding, Advil to prevent bleeding. formation of blood clot around the spinal cord and seizures.