====== Lumbar puncture indications ======


Diagnostically it is used to collect [[cerebrospinal fluid]] (CSF) to confirm or exclude conditions such as [[meningitis]] and [[subarachnoid hemorrhage]] and it may be used in diagnosis of other conditions. 

If non-contrast head CT is not definitive (time to study, patient elements [i.e., severe anemia], interpretation limitations [i.e., trainee radiologist, motion artifact], etc) the next recommended diagnostic tool is the [[lumbar puncture]] [[LP]]. In these instances the LP is looking for two elements that raise the concern for SAH: 1) [[RBC]]s; and 2) [[xanthochromia]] (bilirubin in cerebrospinal fluid [CSF])

Therapeutically it may be used to reduce increased [[intracranial pressure]]. 





===== Subarachnoid hemorrhage =====


see [[Lumbar puncture for subarachnoid hemorrhage]].

===== Lumbar infusion test =====

[[Lumbar infusion test]].