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Nicklaus Children's Hospital has several outpatient and urgent care centers in the Miami and South Florida area.
Walk-in urgent care with no appointment needed.
Serving as your child's primary doctor's office.
Pediatric specialty consultations available closer to home.
A full range of comprehensive services all under one roof.
With over 700 pediatric physicians on staff, we’re dedicated to helping you connect with the right specialist for your needs.
We have expertise in treating children and educating families on hundreds of different conditions.
We use cutting-edge, specialized treatments and procedures to ensure the best care for your child.
Also known as: spinal tap.
Lumbar puncture and spinal tap are two terms for the same medical procedure. It involves removing a sample of spinal fluid from the spine in order to diagnose a potential infection. What happens during the procedure?
The patient will lie on his or her side, a local anesthetic is applied, and a needle is inserted into the back. Some spinal fluid is withdrawn, and the needle is removed. Is any special preparation needed?
You may need to stop taking certain medications before the procedure. In some cases, a CT scan is necessary before the procedure is performed. What are the risk factors?
Headache, back pain, bleeding and a herniation of the brainstem are potential complications of lumbar puncture.
Reviewed by: Marcos A Mestre, MD
This page was last updated on: 6/21/2019 1:27:43 AM