LUMBER PUNCTURE

INTRODUCTION:  A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is a diagnostic procedure that involves the removal of cerebrospinal fluid to determine its pressure and constituents. As the name tells us, the removal, using a syringe, is made in the lumbar area. Because the spinal cord ends between the 1st and 2nd lumbar vertebrae, the needle is usually inserted between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae. The meningeal sac containing cerebrospinal fluid extends to the end of the lumbar vertebrae, permitting access to the cerebrospinal fluid with little chance of damaging the spinal cord.

NORMAL PARAMETERS OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID:  Cerebrospinal fluid is a circulating fluid and has a normal pressure of 70 to 200 mmH₂O. An abnormal pressure usually indicates an obstruction in circulation, which may be caused by infection, a tumor, or mechanical injury. Other diagnostic tests would be needed to determine the precise cause. Perhaps the most common reason for a lumbar puncture is suspected meningitis, which may be caused by several kinds of bacteria. If the patient does have meningitis, the cerebrospinal fluid will be cloudy rather than clear and will be examined for the presence of bacteria and many white blood cells.  A few WBCs in CSF is normal, because WBCs are found in all tissue fluid. Another abnormal constituent of cerebrospinal fluid is red blood cells. Their presence indicates bleeding somewhere in the central nervous system. There may be many causes, and again, further testing would be necessary.

 

RELATED;

1.  BODY FLUIDS

2.  ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

3.  MEDICAL CONDITIONS

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