S1 guidelines “lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid analysis” (abridged and translated version) (original) (raw)

Introduction Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is important for detecting inflammation of the nervous system and the meninges, bleeding in the area of the subarachnoid space that may not be visualized by imaging, and the spread of malignant diseases to the CSF space. In the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, the importance of CSF analysis is increasing. Measuring the opening pressure of CSF in idiopathic intracranial hypertension and at spinal tap in normal pressure hydrocephalus constitute diagnostic examination procedures with therapeutic benefits. Recommendations (most important 3-5 recommendations on a glimpse): The indications and contraindications must be checked before lumbar puncture (LP) is performed, and sampling CSF requires the consent of the patient.Puncture with an atraumatic needle is associated with a lower incidence of postpuncture discomfort. The frequency of postpuncture syndrome correlates inversely with age and body mass index, ...