Lumbar Puncture

Spinal Tap

How To Prepare

Before you have a lumbar puncture, tell your doctor if you:

• Are taking any medicines. If you take medicines every day, ask your doctor whether you should take these medicines on the day of the lumbar puncture.
• Are allergic to any medicines, such as those used to numb the skin (anesthetics).
• Have had bleeding problems or take blood-thinners, such as ASA or warfarin (Coumadin).
• Are or might be pregnant.
• Take any herbal remedies. Some of these remedies may thin the blood.

You will empty your bladder before the procedure.

For a lumbar puncture, you will be asked to sign a consent form. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the procedure, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. This procedure is often done in an emergency situation. If you are scheduled to have this procedure, you can understand the importance of it by filling out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: February 4, 2007
Medical Review:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology
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