CSF collection

Alternative names:

cisternal puncture; collecting a spinal fluid specimen; lumbar puncture; spinal tap; ventricular puncture

What the risks are:

• 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
• damage to the spinal cord (particularly if the person moves during the test)
• Cisternal puncture or ventricular puncture carry additional risk of damage to the brainstem or brain tissue and risk of bleeding within the brain; resulting in incapacitation or death.

Special considerations:

This test should not be performed on people in which increased intracranial pressure is suspected.