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At UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, we believe parents and guardians can contribute to the success of this treatment and invite you to participate. Please read the following information to learn about the procedure and how you can help.
Spinal taps allow chemotherapy drugs to enter your child’s central nervous system, which is not possible when the drugs are injected into your child’s veins.
When sedation is needed, there are important rules for eating and drinking that must be followed in the hours before the treatment.
For children older than 12 months:
For infants under 12 months:
For all children:
Spinal taps are done at the Division of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology of UPMC Children’s. They also may be done while your child is a patient in the hospital. After you have registered your child at the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Registration Desk, you will be asked to sit in the waiting area.
We invite one parent or guardian to stay with your child during the treatment. Other adults and siblings must stay in the waiting room during the procedure.
You will be joined in the examining room by a doctor and one or two assistants who will work with your child and do the spinal tap. The doctor may be wearing a mask, gown, and gloves; the assistants may be wearing them, too.
The most important role of a parent or guardian during the procedure is to help your child stay calm and relaxed. The best way to help your child stay calm is for you to stay calm. Although your child may seem to be uncomfortable, rest assured that the medication will keep him or her from remembering any pain from the treatment.
When all the medication has been injected, the therapeutic spinal tap is done.
If your child has any special needs or health issues you feel the doctor performing the procedure needs to know about, please call the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh before the procedure and ask to speak with a nurse. It is important to notify us in advance about any special needs.
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Drive 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
412-692-5500
Therapeutic Spinal Taps (PDF)
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
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