2006-12-31 22:43:49 · 5 answers · asked by OLIVER R 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
A lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) is a test to evaluate the fluid (cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
During a lumbar puncture, a needle is inserted into the spinal canal. Samples of CSF are collected and later analyzed for color, blood cell counts, protein, glucose, and other substances. A portion of the sample may be cultured to promote the growth of infectious organisms, such as bacteria or fungi, to check for infection of the CSF. The pressure of the CSF also is measured during the test.
A lumbar puncture is done to:
Evaluate symptoms possibly caused by an infection (such as meningitis), inflammation, cancer, or bleeding in the area around the brain or spinal cord (such as subarachnoid hemorrhage).
Diagnose certain diseases of the brain and spinal cord, such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Measure the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the space surrounding the spinal cord.
A lumbar puncture may also be done to:
Inject anesthetics or medications into the CSF. Medications may be injected to treat leukemia and other types of cancer of the central nervous system.
Inject a dye that is used to produce X-ray images of the spinal cord during a myelogram.
2006-12-31 22:50:53 · answer #1 · answered by R Murali 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lumber Punch
2016-10-01 11:25:13 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you mean "lumbar puncture".
That means a spinal tap. That means a doctor carefully inserts a needle into the spinal column to get a small sample of the cerebro-spinal fluid. They do this to check the fluid for potential diseases such as meningitis, encephalitis, and so on.
2007-01-01 00:26:38 · answer #3 · answered by P-nuts and Hair-dos 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mum had a lumbar puncture and wasn't extremely in any great discomfort yet when you're, communicate this by along with your physician on his rounds (i'm assuming you're nevertheless in well being middle) i'm conscious of it being a very invasive proceedure and there is a good number of discharge from it. in the journey that they did not allow you to already know why, this is to ascertain how accepted your spinal chord etc is. Sorry i can not help extra.
2016-12-01 09:37:41 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A needle like instrument is inserted into the lumbar part of your back (lower back) into the spinal column to take out some fluid to test for certain things (most commonly test for meningitis).
2006-12-31 22:47:40 · answer #5 · answered by icunurse85 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋