BACKGROUND: Patients are referred to ophthalmologists to evaluate for papilledema when they are found to have elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure. However, some of these patients have no clinical history consistent with intracranial hyper-tension. We aimed to determine how often and how high patients with normal opening pressure could artificially elevate their CSF pressure to a pseudo-pathologic level by performing a Valsalva maneuver. METHODS: We measured CSF pressure at rest and after a Valsalva maneuver in 15 consecutive normotensive patients referred for CSF analysis to determine the frequency and amplitude of elevation of pressure. Manometry was performed in the standard lateral decubitus position with legs and knees extended and abdomen relaxed and then again during a Valsalva maneuver with hip flexion and bearing down against a closed glottis. RESULTS: All 15 normotensive patients elevated their CSF pressure to levels greater than 25 cm water. One patient reached a maximum pressure of 47 cm water. INTERPRETATION: Artifactual elevation of CSF pressure may therefore occur frequently. Caution is advised before accepting a diagnosis of intracranial hypertension in those lacking this syndrome. These patients require repeat CSF pressure measurements to either verify or refute previous recordings.
BACKGROUND:Patients are referred to ophthalmologists to evaluate for papilledema when they are found to have elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure. However, some of these patients have no clinical history consistent with intracranial hyper-tension. We aimed to determine how often and how high patients with normal opening pressure could artificially elevate their CSF pressure to a pseudo-pathologic level by performing a Valsalva maneuver. METHODS: We measured CSF pressure at rest and after a Valsalva maneuver in 15 consecutive normotensive patients referred for CSF analysis to determine the frequency and amplitude of elevation of pressure. Manometry was performed in the standard lateral decubitus position with legs and knees extended and abdomen relaxed and then again during a Valsalva maneuver with hip flexion and bearing down against a closed glottis. RESULTS: All 15 normotensive patients elevated their CSF pressure to levels greater than 25 cm water. One patient reached a maximum pressure of 47 cm water. INTERPRETATION: Artifactual elevation of CSF pressure may therefore occur frequently. Caution is advised before accepting a diagnosis of intracranial hypertension in those lacking this syndrome. These patients require repeat CSF pressure measurements to either verify or refute previous recordings.
Authors: S B Carter; M Pistilli; K G Livingston; D R Gold; N J Volpe; K S Shindler; G T Liu; M A Tamhankar Journal: Eye (Lond) Date: 2014-09-05 Impact factor: 3.775
Authors: Carl Moritz Zipser; José Miguel Spirig; José Aguirre; Anna-Sophie Hofer; Nikolai Pfender; Markus Hupp; Armin Curt; Mazda Farshad; Martin Schubert Journal: Acta Neurochir Suppl Date: 2021
Authors: K M Schwartz; P H Luetmer; C H Hunt; A L Kotsenas; F E Diehn; L J Eckel; D F Black; V T Lehman; E P Lindell Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2012-10-11 Impact factor: 3.825