Sequelae of lumbar puncture in newborns

The last thing parents want to see is a newborn getting sick, because the newborn's body is very weak and many of its organs are not fully developed. If symptoms of disease occur, it is difficult for them to return to normal after treatment, and it is very easy for them to be left with sequelae and other diseases. Lumbar puncture in newborns is a relatively serious surgical procedure. Although it can treat diseases, it is quite harmful to health. What are the sequelae of brain trauma?

When children have lesions in the brain and spinal cord, lumbar puncture (LP) and cerebrospinal fluid examination are required. For example, children suffering from meningitis, encephalitis, brain tumors, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intrathecal injection of drugs such as intrathecal injection of drugs for meningeal leukemia, etc.

The production, circulation and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid follow certain rules. Most cerebrospinal fluid is produced within the ventricles and flows through specific holes and ducts in the ventricular system into the subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal cord. Cerebrospinal fluid flows and circulates in the subarachnoid space between the brain and spinal cord. Finally it is absorbed by the arachnoid granulations and enters the venous sinuses.

The physiological functions of cerebrospinal fluid are:

1. Protective effect: it allows the brain and spinal cord to float in the cerebrospinal fluid, cushioning external impacts and protecting the brain and spinal cord from concussion and trauma.

2. Metabolism: some useless metabolic products of the central nervous system are discharged from the cerebrospinal fluid.

3. Regulatory function: it can regulate changes in intracranial pressure.

When intracranial hypertension is obvious, especially when a tumor in the posterior cranial fossa is suspected, lumbar puncture should be performed with caution to prevent a sudden drop in pressure, which could cause the brain to become embedded in the foramen magnum, resulting in brain herniation and sudden death. But lumbar puncture is generally safe.

The success of lumbar puncture is also closely related to the degree of cooperation of the child and his family. In fact, during lumbar puncture, doctors will give children local anesthesia. The pain the child endures is similar to that of a normal intramuscular injection. Therefore, parents should first calm themselves down and reduce anxiety to avoid giving their children any hints of discomfort. Then you should encourage and comfort your child more, and let him/her focus on things he/she likes. During lumbar puncture, the child's body should be in a flexed position as much as possible, with the knee joints as close to the chest as possible to fully expose the gap between the vertebrae so that the doctor can insert the needle smoothly. Once the lumbar puncture needle enters the child's body, the child should try to avoid coughing and changing position to prevent the lumbar puncture needle from touching the paraspinal nerves and causing discomfort. After the lumbar puncture, the child generally needs to lie flat for about 6 hours. The purpose of lying flat is to prevent headaches caused by changes in intracranial pressure after the lumbar puncture.