Severe bilateral subdural hematomas as a complication of diagnostic lumbar puncture for possible Alzheimer ’s disease

Post lumbar puncture headache (PLPH) is a benign condition and the most frequent complication of spinal anesthesia or lumbar puncture (LP). Subdural hematoma (SDH) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. The true incidence of post- LP SDH is unknown [1]. The multicenter study on LP feasibility showed that diagnostic LPs can safely be performed in memory clinics. Severe complications were very rare (0.7% of the study population) and no SDH was reported2. Only a few weeks after the multicenter LP study ended and to which our center participated, we diagnosed a severe bilateral SDH in a patient who underwent diagnostic LP for possible Alzheimer ’s disease (AD).
Source: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery - Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Tags: Case Report Source Type: research