Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- SECTION I NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION AND NEURODIAGNOSTIC TESTING
- 1 Neurological Examination
- 2 Neuroradiology
- 3 Electroencephalography
- 4 Lumbar Puncture
- SECTION II COMMON NEUROLOGICAL PRESENTATIONS
- SECTION III SPECIFIC NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
- SECTION IV NEUROLOGICAL TRAUMA
- SECTION V PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VI PREGNANCY-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VII NEUROTOXICOLOGY
- SECTION VIII BRAIN DEATH
- Index
- References
4 - Lumbar Puncture
from SECTION I - NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION AND NEURODIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 August 2009
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- SECTION I NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION AND NEURODIAGNOSTIC TESTING
- 1 Neurological Examination
- 2 Neuroradiology
- 3 Electroencephalography
- 4 Lumbar Puncture
- SECTION II COMMON NEUROLOGICAL PRESENTATIONS
- SECTION III SPECIFIC NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
- SECTION IV NEUROLOGICAL TRAUMA
- SECTION V PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VI PREGNANCY-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VII NEUROTOXICOLOGY
- SECTION VIII BRAIN DEATH
- Index
- References
Summary
The only absolute contraindication to performance of a lumbar puncture (LP) is the presence of infection over the puncture site. Potential side effects of lumbar puncture range from minor to life threatening. Even in the absence of infection in the region of the puncture site, there is a risk of introducing an infection into the spinal canal. Strict sterile precautions must therefore be maintained to minimize this risk. Meningitis can develop following LP in a bacteremic patient. D. W. Teele reported that 7 of 46 bacteremic patients developed meningitis following an (initially negative) diagnostic LP. In a patient with equivocal test results and a negative Gram stain, empiric antibiotics therapy is begun until culture results are available. In cases where the examiner has a high pretest probability of bacterial meningitis, the patient should receive appropriate antibiotics before or immediately after LP is performed, without waiting for results to become available.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Principles and Practice of Emergency NeurologyHandbook for Emergency Physicians, pp. 35 - 42Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2003
References
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