effects of carbon dioxide on measuring cerebral spinal fluid pressure

• Published in: Child's nervous system Vol. 25; no. 7; pp. 783 - 784
• Main Authors: Lim, Ming Jin, Lin, Jean-Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.07.2009; Springer-Verlag
• Subjects: Brief Communication; Carbon Dioxide; Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure - physiology; Child; Humans; Intracranial Hypertension - cerebrospinal fluid; Intracranial Hypertension - diagnosis; Intracranial Hypertension - metabolism; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; Spinal Puncture; Benign intracranial hypertension; Pseudotumour cerebri; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension; Raised intracranial pressure
• ISSN: 0256-7040; 1433-0350
• DOI: 10.1007/s00381-009-0902-y

Purpose The effects of pCO2 on cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) pressure measurement were observed in four patients. Methods Children presenting with either a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of IIH, who were undergoing lumbar puncture under a general anaesthetic for pressure measurement, were recruited to study the relationship between pCO2 and CSF pressure measurements. Results A rise of end-tidal pCO2 by 1 kPa causes a rise of CSF pressure by 3.5-12 cmH20. Conclusion Controlling of pCO2 is important when measuring CSF pressure to prevent misdiagnosis and over treatment of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).