When would a person need to have one?
2006-09-18 16:04:24 · 7 answers · asked by Mrs J 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
A spinal tap is a procedure performed to sample the cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid can be sent for analysis. Microbiologic evaluation (looking at it under the microscope for infectious agents, and culturing to see if these grow) is probably the most common test performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Infection of the CSF is termed "meningitis".
Chemical analysis is also routinely performed. Glucose and protein levels are checked, as well as tests to look for breakdown products of certain biochemical reactions. A cell count can be performed in order to look for the presence of large numbers of immune cells, suggestive of a response to some sort of inflammatory event such as an infection or injury.
Spinal taps are less common in adults than they are in children because CSF infection is a much more frequent problem in younger patients, even if it is still a comparitively rare issue.
If you have any specific questions about this procedure, feel free to contact me.
2006-09-18 16:19:51 · answer #1 · answered by bellydoc 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A spinal tap is like a beer tap, ie; a tap into the beer to sample and enjoy it. The spinal tap is pretty barbaric, in that they take this long needle and insert it between the vertabre, enter the spinal colum and extract spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is what the tap is looking foor.
Usually physicians are looking to confirm a diagnosis; so they will survey the fluid for contents, bacteria etc.
Do you have a diagnosis that needs confirming, that is why they are doing it. They may consider menengitis, headaches etc.
It has been being done for years, and mostly it's not too risky. But make sure you have a good physician to do it, problems can happen. It seems to me, in this day an age, the spinal tap is not the best tool for targeting a diagnosis. I recommend that you ask your doctor to confirm his suspicions a different way, do you really want a sharp needle stuck into your spinal column.
Sorry to be so down on it.
2006-09-18 16:12:38 · answer #2 · answered by redford 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Examination of the pressure and the composition of cerebrospinal fluid can aid in the diagnosis of central nervous system infections, some tumours, and multiple sclerosis. In a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap, cerebrospinal fluid is obtained by inserting a needle through the skin in the small of the back (below the termination of the spinal cord)
2006-09-18 16:14:21 · answer #3 · answered by barbi316 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a diagnostic test to determine whether a person has spinal meningitis, or to check one's bone marrow in the case of leukemia (a blood cancer). It is a painful procedure, where the patient has to remain perfectly still.
2006-09-18 16:14:08 · answer #4 · answered by Rhonda 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
to make sure that there is no bacterial or viral infection in the brain.
2006-09-18 16:11:10 · answer #5 · answered by redeme3 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When they have a very high fever
2006-09-18 16:12:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're mostly done when meningitis is suspected.
2006-09-18 16:11:52 · answer #7 · answered by ♥michele♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋