Treatments That Transform Our Patients' Lives
CT Myelograms & Digital Subtraction Melography
CT stands for Computed Tomography. A CT scan is a series of pictures of your body, taken using x- rays. Myelography is the term used for an x-ray examination of the spinal canal. During myelography, a contrast dye is injected through a needle into the space around the spinal cord. This dye outlines the spinal cord, spinal canal and nerve roots on the x-ray image. This is commonly used to evaluate the spinal cord and nerve roots for suspected compression. It can also be beneficial in the investigation of low csf pressure dysregulation disorders.
Risks include an allergic reaction to the contrast dye; small risk of seizure after the procedure as the dye is injected into the CSF space. As the procedure involves a lumbar puncture other potential. Risks include a CSF leak from the needle insertion site, slight risk of infection, numbness in the legs or lower back pain and risk of bleeding in the spinal canal or soft tissue around it.
The procedure time will vary depending on the number of pictures we need to take. However, you will typically be in the CT suite for 60-90 minutes, before then going to the ward where you will need to lie flat for at least 2 further hours before going home. To try and minimise the risk of complications we may ask you to stay in hospital for 1-2 days after. The radiologist will examine the images and a formal report of the findings will be sent to the doctor who referred you for the procedure.
Blood Patch
(Targeted & Non-Targeted)
An epidural blood patch is a procedure to treat a headache caused by leaking cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This complication can happen after a spinal tap, an epidural for labour and delivery, or another procedure that requires a spinal puncture. To create a blood patch, a doctor injects a small amount of blood into the epidural space around the spinal canal, near the site of the previous puncture. As the blood clots, it forms a “patch” that seals the site and stops the leak of CSF. After the blood patch is placed, you’ll need to stay in the hospital for a short time so that the medical team can monitor you. You will have to limit activities such as lifting anything heavy or vigorous exercise for the first 24hrs and you may feel a bit stiff for the first few days. Your response will be monitored by your doctor.
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