External Lumbar Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage Indications

1. to reduce CSF pressure on a site of Cerebrospinal fluid fistula/fistula. Example situations:

a) dural breach during spine surgery or craniotomy (especially posterior fossa)

b) for spontaneous CSF fistula (rare)

2. to reduce intracranial pressure in cases of communicating hydrocephalus: e.g. drain test for NPH, or when an infected shunt has been removed

3. to reduce CSF pressure to attempt to increase perfusion of the spinal cord: e.g. during surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm, or following spinal cord injury

see Cerebrospinal fluid tap test.

see External lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage for cerebrospinal fluid fistula.

Reduce intracranial pressure (ICP) during a craniotomy.

External Lumbar Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage for subarachnoid hemorrhage