[Myelography, can it be performed as an outpatient procedure?]

The modern contrast agents used today in myelography cause far fewer complications than earlier. This development has opened up the prospect of undertaking myelography as an outpatient procedure. The complications that can occur after the myelography are, for the great majority known, benign, and disappear within a few days, mainly headache. The frequency of minor complications can be minimised by the use of a smaller gauge and/or a rounded needle tip. When the procedure is done by experienced personnel with non-toxic antiseptic preparation, the complications seem to be similar in frequency, magnitude, and type to a simple diagnostic spinal tap. Positioning of the patients after the examination does not affect the frequency or seriousness of the complications. Our study of the patients' attitude towards outpatient myelography shows great satisfaction with the procedure. We therefore conclude that there is no added risk in performing outpatient myelography; the only noticeable complication is headache, which seldom needs intervention, and there are considerable benefits for both patients and hospital in an outpatient procedure.