TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Lumbar Puncture A1 - Colvin, Mai O. A1 - Shiloh, Ariel L. A1 - Eisen, Lewis A. A2 - Oropello, John M. A2 - Pastores, Stephen M. A2 - Kvetan, Vladimir PY - 1 T2 - Critical Care AB - KEY POINTSLumbar puncture (LP) is essential for the diagnosis of two treatable but potentially fatal conditions, central nervous system (CNS) infection and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with a negative computed tomography (CT) scan.LP can also be helpful in the differential diagnosis of other conditions including CNS malignancy, pseudotumor cerebri, and demyelinating diseases.Contraindications to LP include skin or soft tissue infection at the puncture site, acute spinal cord or head trauma, uncorrected severe coagulopathy, and brain shift secondary to a space-occupying lesion (SOL) or diffuse cerebral edema.Ultrasound-guided LPs reduce the risk of a failed or traumatic procedure, the number of needle insertions, and redirections compared to those performed without imaging.Complications from LP include brain herniation, headache, infection, spinal hematoma, and neurologic compromise. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1136419877 ER -