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Risks of lumbar puncture include:
- Hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to the anesthetic
- Discomfort during the test
- Headache after the test
- Bleeding into the spinal canal
- Brain herniation (if performed on a person with increased intracranial pressure), which can cause brain damage and/or death
- Damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots (particularly if the person moves during the test)
- Infection following a nonsterile procedure (very rare)
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Cisternal puncture and ventricular puncture carry additional risk of damage to the brainstem or brain tissue and risk of bleeding within the brain, potentially resulting in incapacitation or death.
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