Effect of head-down tilt on intracranial pressure and sagittal sinus pressure during general anesthesia in cats.

The effect of head-down tilt during general anesthesia on intracranial pressure (ICP) dynamics was examined in eight cats. Changes in lateral ventricular pressure (LVP), sagittal sinus pressure (SSP), and effective CSF pressure (ECSFP), which is the driving pressure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption, were studied in association with a shift from the horizontal prone position to the 20 degrees head-down tilt position. Both LVP and SSP values were significantly (P < 0.01) increased at 10 min in the head-down tilt position as compared with the control position, remained elevated during the next 110 min, and returned to baseline when the horizontal position was restored. However, ECSFP (expressed by LVP - SSP) was not significantly different from the control value, because changes in LVP and SSP were similar. These results suggest that head-down tilt does not impair CSF absorption.