Table of Contents
Can you do a lumbar puncture on Plavix?
Although platelet dysfunction owing to aspirin or clopidogrel is not an absolute contraindication for lumbar puncture,6 a survey of European hospitals found that 80% of them require supplementary information, such as bleeding time or date of drug discontinuation, before starting the procedure.
Can you have a spinal tap while on blood thinners?
The provider will have to decide if it is safe for you to have a lumbar puncture. He or she may have you stop taking certain blood thinners a few days before the procedure. Do not stop taking this medicine unless directed by your healthcare provider.
How long do you hold Plavix before lumbar puncture?
Platelets. For plavix, stopping for 7 days before the procedure or 5 days before followed by a platelet function test showing adequate function seems like a hard stop. This is especially true in patients more likely to bleed such as those who are older or those with comorbid liver or renal disease.
Is clopidogrel contraindication for lumbar puncture?
Aspirin or clopidogrel, or both, did not meaningfully increase hemorrhagic complications in patients undergoing lumbar punctures, regardless of when the antiplatelet drug was discontinued relative to the time of the procedure.
Can you do LP on clopidogrel?
In this retrospective review, Mayo Clinic researchers identified 100 patients who underwent LP while they were taking aspirin and clopidogrel. At least 3 months of follow-up information was available in all cases. No epidural hematomas or other serious complications occurred.
When is a lumbar puncture contraindicated?
Absolute contraindications for performing a LP include infected skin over the puncture site, increased intracranial pressure (ICP) from any space-occupying lesion (mass, abscess), and trauma or mass to lumbar vertebrae.
What are the side effects of getting a spinal tap?
Risks
- Post-lumbar puncture headache. Around 25% of people who have undergone a lumbar puncture develop a headache afterward due to a leak of fluid into nearby tissues.
- Back discomfort or pain. You may feel pain or tenderness in your lower back after the procedure.
- Bleeding.
- Brainstem herniation.
Is a spinal tap the same as a lumbar puncture?
To perform a spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture), your healthcare provider inserts a needle into your lower back to get a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid is the clear liquid that surrounds your spine and brain.
Is a lumbar puncture risky?
Though lumbar punctures are generally recognized as safe, they do carry some risks. These include: Post-lumbar puncture headache. Around 25% of people who have undergone a lumbar puncture develop a headache afterward due to a leak of fluid into nearby tissues.
When should you not do LP?
Can you take aspirin before spinal tap?
You may be advised to stop taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or blood thinners several days prior to your procedure. You may be told not to eat or drink anything after midnight before your procedure.
Why is lumbar puncture done?
A lumbar puncture (LP) or spinal tap may be done to diagnose or treat a condition. For this procedure, your healthcare provider inserts a hollow needle into the space surrounding the spinal column (subarachnoid space) in the lower back to withdraw some cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or inject medicine.