Pre-Admission Testing for Procedure
Your physician has scheduled you for a Myelogram or Lumbar Puncture at UMC. It will be necessary for you to pre-admit for your procedure. This pre-admission can be performed up to 2 weeks prior to your procedure but MUST BE done NO LATER than 24 hours prior to your scheduled exam. Your pre-admission will be performed at the UMC Outpatient Center. When you arrive at the Outpatient Center, you will sign in at the front desk to await registration. Once you are registered, you will be escorted to the Testing area where a Registered Nurse will interview you to obtain your medical history. Please be sure to bring with you a complete list of all medications, prescription and over-the-counter, that you are currently taking. Be sure to include the dosage of the medication(s) and how often you take each one. The Pre-Admission Nurse will need this list. Any necessary pre-procedure lab work will all be taken care of at this time.
Day of Procedure
Arrive at the UMC Outpatient Center at the designated time for your procedure. You will sign in at the front desk to notify them of your arrival. It is required that you have only had clear liquids after midnight. If you did not pre-admit for necessary blood work and assessments, you will be taken to Outpatient Testing. This will take approximately 45 minutes to complete before your exam can be initiated. Please bring no more than 2 visitors or family members with you for your exam. There is very limited seating in the Outpatient lobby and we want your family members to be comfortable during their wait time while your procedure is being performed. You and your family members/visitors will be escorted from the waiting room to the area where the procedure will be performed. At that time, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Your clothes and valuables will then be given to your family member (or visitor) to keep while your procedure is being performed. You and your visitors will be given an expected time frame for how long the exam will take. Please be sure and have a responsible adult remain at UMC throughout the entire length of the procedure.
Procedure
You will be taken to an x-ray room where your medical history can be reviewed and consent signed. DO NOT BE ALARMED IF YOU ARE ASKED SIMILAR QUESTIONS by different staff on several occasions. This is used as a safety check before your procedure. The Radiologist will introduce himself and will discuss with you the risks and benefits of the procedure.
Before the procedure starts the Radiologist and Technologist will perform a “Time Out”. The “Time Out” consists of each team member agreeing on the following; CORRECT PATIENT, CORRECT PROCEDURE, CORRECT SURGICAL SITE, CORRECT PATIENT POSITION, and USING THE CORRECT EQUIPMENT. This “Time Out” is performed for your safety. The Radiologist will then numb the outer area of your spine with Lidocaine so that you will not feel the needle placement. This may cause a stinging sensation for a few seconds until the numbness takes effect. The Radiologist will review your x-rays to determine exactly where to place the spinal needle. Proper needle placement is confirmed by visualization of spinal fluid. At this time, if you are having a Lumbar Puncture, the Radiologist will allow spinal fluid to collect into a specimen container to be sent to the Laboratory Department. If you are having a Myelogram, contrast will be injected into your spinal canal. The needle will then be removed from your spine. A bandaid will be placed over the puncture site. If you are having a Myelogram, additional x-rays will be performed after which you will be taken to the CT Department for a CT scan of your spine.
Recovery Area
Once your procedure has been completed, you will be taken by stretcher to an outpatient recovery area for 1-2 hours, depending upon the Radiologist’s written orders. A mild headache is to be expected. Please alert the nurse of any severe headache. The nurse will continue to monitor your dressing. You may have one visitor with you during this recovery time. You may eat while resting in bed.
After Procedure
You will be given instructions specific to your procedure prior to your discharge. You must have a responsible adult to drive you home. These arrangements must be made prior to your procedure.