Cerebrospinal fluid

Question 1

Sedation or GA for collection?

Answer 1

• GA

Question 2

Where are the 2 sites CSF collection is commonly performed?

Answer 2

• Cisternal: from between the skull and C1
• Lumbar: from between L5-6 in dogs, L6-7 in cats

Question 3

Cisternal collection

Answer 3

• relatively easy & safe
• dangerous in animals with raised intracranial pressure (usually these will be obtunded animals) can be fatal
• cisternal is the site of choice in most cases
• use ventroflexed neck (make sure the ET tube is not kinked to occluded)

Question 4

Lumbar collection

Answer 4

• tricky to perform, may not be possible in obese animals
• only to be attempted by the experienced

Question 5

Use of CSF

Answer 5

• can be useful to show inflammation within the NCS
• sampling to determine if infectious diseases are intracranial

Question 6

Analysis of CSF

Answer 6

• looks at protein levels and cytology
• protein elevation is probably due to antibody production
• cytology predominantly looking at white cell count and differentiation of cell types