Embolisation of iatrogenic lumbar artery bleed causing psoas haematoma following elective lumbar puncture

The case of a female patient in her 50s presenting as a surgical emergency with abdominal pain and a positive Obraztsova's sign. Seven days prior to the presentation, a lumbar puncture (LP) had been performed to investigate severe headaches and exclude a subarachnoid haemorrhage. The patient was subsequently found to have an acute lumbar arterial bleed causing haemodynamic instability and a psoas haematoma. An emergency lumbar artery embolisation procedure was performed by the interventional radiology department in order to stabilise the bleed. The patient made a full recovery prior to discharge.

Automated summary

This article reports a case of a middle-aged female patient presenting as a surgical emergency with abdominal pain and a positive Obraztsova's sign. A lumbar puncture had been performed a week prior to the presentation to investigate severe headaches. The patient was found to have an acute lumbar arterial bleed causing haemodynamic instability and a psoas haematoma. An emergency lumbar artery embolisation procedure was performed to stabilise the bleed, and the patient made a full recovery before discharge.