Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-Letters: Submit a response to the article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (6)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by El-Behesy, BAZ.
Right arrow Articles by Yentis, S. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by El-Behesy, BAZ.
Right arrow Articles by Yentis, S. M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

British Journal of Anaesthesia, Vol 77, Issue 6 784-785, Copyright © 1996 by The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

Distinguishing cerebrospinal fluid from saline used to identify the extradural space

BAZ. El-Behesy, D. James, K. F. Koh, N. Hirsch and S. M. Yentis
Department of Anaesthesia, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG; Magill Department of Anaesthetics, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH

Because of the potential seriousness of unrecognized dural puncture during the performance of extradural analgesia and the widespread use of normal saline for the "loss of resistance" technique, it is important to differentiate between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and saline dripping from the extradural needle. During insertion of lumbar drains in 10 neurosurgical patients, we first identified the extradural space using saline for loss of resistance. Temperature (using the back of the gloved hand), pH, glucose and protein (using urine testing sticks) were tested by a blinded observer for ability to distinguish saline aspirated from the extradural space from CSF aspirated on establishing the dural puncture. Temperature, glucose and protein were independently 100% accurate in distinguishing saline from CSF. One saline sample had a pH value greater than 7 compared with nine CSF samples. We conclude that simple bedside testing for temperature, glucose, protein and pH accurately distinguished between CSF and saline used to identify the extradural space.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Anesth. Analg.Home page
S. Evron, D. Sessler, O. Sadan, M. Boaz, M. Glezerman, and T. Ezri
Identification of the Epidural Space: Loss of Resistance with Air, Lidocaine, or the Combination of Air and Lidocaine
Anesth. Analg., July 1, 2004; 99(1): 245 - 250.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br J AnaesthHome page
A. A. van den Berg, L. Nguyen, M. von-Maszewski, H. Hoefer, C. D. Oliver, and S. A. White
Unexplained fitting in patients with post-dural puncture headache. Risk of iatrogenic pneumocephalus with air rationalizes use of loss of resistance to saline
Br. J. Anaesth., June 1, 2003; 90(6): 810 - 812.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.