CSF Glucose
Risks
- Risks of lumbar puncture include:
- hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to the anesthetic
- discomfort during the test
- headache after the test
- bleeding into the spinal canal
-
Brain herniation (if performed on a person with increased intracranial pressure), and resulting in brain damage and/or death. This test is not performed in patients with CT/MRI or clinical findings suggestive of increased intracranial pressure.
- Damage to the spinal cord does not occur because the needle is inserted below the level that the spinal cord ends. The needle may irritate a nerve root which results in transient numbness or tingling in the leg. This goes away when the needle is re-adjusted.
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