Consensus guidelines for lumbar puncture in patients with neurological diseases.

Introduction: Cerebrospinal fluid collection by lumbar puncture (LP) is performed in the diagnostic workup of several neurological brain diseases. Reluctance to perform the procedure is among others due to a lack of standards and guidelines to minimize the risk of complications, such as post-LP headache or back pain.

Methods: We provide consensus guidelines for the LP procedure to minimize the risk of complications.

Performance and complications of lumbar puncture in memory clinics: Results of the multicenter lumbar puncture feasibility study.

Introduction: Lumbar puncture (LP) is increasingly performed in memory clinics. We investigated patient-acceptance of LP, incidence of and risk factors for post-LP complications in memory clinic populations.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 3868 patients (50% women, age 66 ± 11 years, mini mental state examination 25 ± 5) at 23 memory clinics.