Nursing interventions after
a lumbar puncture:
Following nursing interventions are
appropriate after the lumbar puncture.
- Apply a small amount of pressure on
the puncture site to avoid bleeding
- Puncture site should cover with
dressing or bandage
- The patient should rest on a flat
surface or bed for number of hours recommended by the physician
(Generally it vary between 4 to 24 hours)
- Instruct the patient not to elevate
head
- Monitor the patient if any signs of
CSF leakages such as positional headaches, nausea and vomiting,
neck stiffness, photophobia, sense of imbalance, tinnitus, and
phonophobia
- Ensure and encourage the patient to
take more fluid content which helps to recover the CSF that is
removed during lumbar puncture