Spinal Tap

• Spinal Tap Introduction
• Risks
• Spinal Tap Preparation
• During the Procedure
• After the Procedure
• Next Steps
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Multimedia
• Synonyms and Keywords
• References
• Authors and Editors

Spinal Tap Introduction

• A spinal tap is a procedure performed when a doctor needs to look at the cerebrospinal fluid (also known as spinal fluid). Spinal tap is also referred to as a lumbar puncture, or LP.)
  
  
• Some of the reasons your doctor may want to do a spinal tap include the following:
  
  
  • To look for infection
    
    
  • To check to see if there is bleeding around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage)
    
    
  • To look for causes of unexplained seizures
    
    
  • To look for causes of headaches
  
  
• Cerebrospinal fluid is a liquid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. An adult has about 140 mL (just under 5 oz) of spinal fluid. Typically, an adult makes 30-100 mL of spinal fluid daily.
  
  
• A spinal tap can be performed in any person and at any age from newborn to age 100 years and older.