Since March, Canadian Medical’s Park Clinic is equipped to perform lumbar punctures. The procedure is performed by the leading neurologist, Eva Krasulová, M.D., Ph.D. "The procedure involves a collection of cerebrospinal fluid with an atraumatic needle- a modern and very gentle way of collecting a sample," says the Dr. Krasulová.

Lumbar puncture is generally used in neurology to diagnose inflammation of the nervous system, but sometimes it also has its place in the diagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage or some oncological disorders. "In our outpatient clinical setting, most cases involve chronic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, neuroborreliosis and others," adds Dr. Krasulová.

According to the doctor, the procedure at Canadian Medical is as gentle as possible. "After the collection, the client lies on his/her stomach for half an hour after which they are discharged - in the vast majority of cases there is no need to have an escort or arrange for a ride. The client can even drive after the procedure," explains the neurologist. "The risk of complications is very low when using the atraumatic needle compared to the standard method of collection using a conventional needle, where up to one third of all patients have complications such as headaches or vomiting," adds Dr. Krasulová, adding that one of the biggest benefits is also very short waiting times.

"We’re thrilled to be able to finally perform this type of procedure ourselves, because it means that our clients don’t have to go to the hospital to undergo this procedure, but they can have the comfort and ease of having the procedure done in an environment they know and where they are well taken care of. This is an especially positive option for our foreign clients because they often have to face the uncomfortable language barrier in the Czech hospital system," says Dr.