Oscillations of cerebrospinal fluid pressure in nonhydrocephalic persons

Neurol Res. 1997 Apr;19(2):135-8. doi: 10.1080/01616412.1997.11740786.

Abstract

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure oscillations with a wavelength of 0.5-2/min (B-waves) are used as a criterion for shunt insertion in hydrocephalic patients. We describe CSF pressure oscillations in two nonhydrocephalic patients with normal baseline CSF pressure. Intracranial pressure was recorded via a ventricular drainage in a 54-year-old male who had a lumber CSF leak after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis and disc herniation after the leak was closed. In the second patient, a 42-year-old male, CSF pressure was monitored via a lumbar drainage which was placed for treatment of a subcutaneous CSF effusion after resection of a recurrent temporal meningioma. CSF pressure oscillations of a wavelength of 0.5-2/min were observed with a relative frequency of 50% (patient 1) and 60% (patient 2) of the recorded time. Also longer waves were observed. Our data suggest that CSF pressure oscillations are not confined to hydrocephalic patients with raised intracranial pressure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure / physiology*
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / physiopathology
  • Intracranial Pressure
  • Lumbosacral Region
  • Male
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Meningioma / physiopathology
  • Meningioma / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Oscillometry
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Reference Values
  • Spinal Stenosis / physiopathology
  • Spinal Stenosis / surgery
  • Temporal Lobe