Periprocedural antithrombotic management for lumbar puncture: Association of British Neurologists 2026 guideline summary update
This is an update of the previous 2018 Association of British Neurologists (ABN) clinical guideline on periprocedural antithrombotic management for lumbar puncture (LP).1 Risks relating to LP should be assessed on an individual basis and consideration given to both bleeding and thrombosis risk, as well as the risk associated with delaying the procedure. We provide here a summary of the agreed recommendations and a summary infographic, which have been endorsed by the ABN and the British Society of Haematology (BSH) Haemostasis and Thrombosis Task Force. They are in keeping with recommendations in the 2024 BSH guideline on assessment and management of bleeding risk prior to invasive procedures.2 Clinical context: Investigations and procedures:
Authors
- Fayyaz Ahmed (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2746-0889)
- Ruth Dobson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2993-585X)
- Katherine Dodd (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0491-7030)
- Hedley Emsley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0129-4488)
- Michael Desborough
- Khaizer Rizvi
- Suresh Chhetri
Institutions
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Queen Mary University of London (GB)
- University of Lancashire (GB)
- University of Hull (GB)
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (GB)
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (GB)
- Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- John Radcliffe Hospital (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (GB)
- Lancaster University (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Practical Neurology
- Published
- 2026-08-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/pn-2026-005351
- Primary Topic
- Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00