Adjunct Professor Federal University of Goiás GOIÂNIA, Goias, Brazil
Abstract:
Background: A previous recommendation to limit cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection to 0.2 mL/kg to avoid complications such as subdural hemorrhages has not been validated in dogs and cats.Hypothesis/
Objectives: The 0.2 mL/kg recommendation for the maximal amount of CSF collection can be safely exceeded for diagnostic purposes.Animals: Client-owned dogs and cats with neurological diseases requiring CSF collection for diagnosis purposes.
Methods: Retrospective study. Cases were included when information on the amount of CSF collected, and potential post-procedural complications was available. CSF collection was performed at the cerebellomedullary cistern in all patients until the flow stopped naturally. Fourteen samples were divided into groups: lower (G1) vs higher (G2) than 0.20 mL/kg of CSF collected. Between-group comparison for signalment, body weight (BW), CSF analysis, and complications was performed using unpaired Student’s t-tests.
Results: G1 contained six samples (five dogs) and G2 contained eight samples (four dogs, and two cats) with one dog per group having more than one CSF tap at different times. BW (p=0.0134) and age (p=0.0007) in G1 (25.4±13.5Kg; 106±36,7mo) were higher than in G2 (5.2±3.9Kg; 29±28mo). The mean CSF amount per kg of BW was lower for G1 (0.13±0.03mL/Kg) than G2 (0.37±0.17mL/Kg) (p=0.006), although the total final volume was similar. Iatrogenic blood contamination was observed in one dog per group. No complications or neurological deterioration were observed in either group. CSF analysis was similar across groups. Conclusions and clinical importance: CSF can be safely collected until the flow stops naturally allowing collection of an adequate amount for diagnostic purposes.
