Identifying Incidence and Risk Factors of Post Lumbar Puncture Low-Pressure Syndrome in Pseudotumor Cerebri Patients

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a condition where intracranial pressure is elevated idiopathically, resulting in disabling headaches and the risk of permanent vision loss. It is diagnosed with fluoroscopy-guided lumbar puncture, which often improves symptoms but can also inadvertently lead to low-pressure syndrome. Severe low-pressure syndrome requires a blood patch to plug the leak of cerebrospinal fluid, an effective way to resolve symptoms. The incidence of post-lumbar puncture low-pressure syndrome in PTC is unknown but traditionally thought to be low. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the rates of low-pressure syndrome in PTC patients and identify correlations between lumbar puncture techniques and subsequent low-pressure syndrome.