Incidence of Spinal Hematoma from Lumbar Punctures in Patients with a Coagulopathy or Thrombocytopenia

Lumbar Puncture CME
Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – coagulopathy, epidural hematoma, Featured, HPC Updates, Lumbar Puncture, thrombocytopenia
More Tags – , , , , ,
A recent cohort study using the Danish nationwide medical registry demonstrates that the incidence of a spinal or epidural hematoma from lumbar punctures in patients with pre-existing thrombocytopenia (Platelets<150 K) or coagulopathy (INR>1.4 or aPTT>39 seconds) is not significantly higher…
Read More

Risk of Epidural Hematoma from Lumbar Puncture in Patients with a Coagulopathy

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – coagulopathy, epidural hematoma, Featured, HPC Updates, Lumbar Puncture, thrombocytopenia
More Tags – , , , , ,
Class 1 evidence to inform decisions about the safety of lumbar punctures in patients with a coagulopathy are lacking. The only guidance we have regarding the safety of lumbar punctures is based on clinical guidance from organizations such as the…
Read More

Guidelines for Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation Discontinuation before a Lumbar Puncture

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Anticoagulation, antiplatelets, epidural hematoma, Featured, HPC update, HPC Updates, Lumbar Puncture
More Tags – , , , , ,
This blog summarizes the guidelines by the European Society of Anesthesiology (ESA), the American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) and the Association of British Neurologists regarding the timing of antiplatelet and anticoagulation discontinuation before a lumbar puncture.  The following table…
Read More

Safety of Lumbar Puncture in Adults and Children with Thrombocytopenia

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – epidural hematoma, Featured, HPC Updates, Lumbar Puncture, thrombocytopenia
More Tags – , , ,
Traditionally, it has been promulgated by anesthesiologists that you need a platelet count of 100,000 to safely perform neuraxial regional anesthesia (spinal and epidural anesthesia).  This practice pattern has continued even though Children’s Hospitals routinely perform intrathecal injections for prophylactic chemotherapy with…
Read More

Categories