ANA Discussion Forum

Archive => Archives => Topic started by: arcteryx on May 04, 2006, 12:23:56 am

Title: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
Post by: arcteryx on May 04, 2006, 12:23:56 am

My surgeon recently described to me that one of the first things they do after they put you under is to remove all CSF out of a lumbar drain inserted in the lower spine.  Ouch. :(

It kind of makes sense, since otherwise the CSF would leak out of the incision in your head, but I was wondering if this was a normal procedure for most AN surgeries?

If you underwent surgery, did you have a lumbar drain inserted at some point?  Did you wake up with it still inserted?

Thanks!

Title: Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
Post by: jenifyer on May 04, 2006, 05:52:17 am

When i had my first AN surgery 6 years ago my doctor did that.  He was going the middle fossa approach.  For my 2nd AN last year my doctor did not do it.  I  thought  that the  lumbar drain was the most painful part of the surgery.

jennifer

Title: Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
Post by: Cheryl R on May 04, 2006, 06:49:08 am

   I have not heard of this being done.    Is your surgeon very experienced doing AN's,like on a weekly basis?             It is done for CSF leaks after surgery.       I had a CSF leak 2 weeks post op and had to have surgery as was told it is not as effective the farther out one is past surgey.
                            Cheryl R.

Title: Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
Post by: Battyp on May 04, 2006, 08:41:17 am

I don't remember a lumbar drain..sounds like something I'd remember? 

Title: Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
Post by: HeadCase2 on May 04, 2006, 09:05:53 am

  I had a lumbar drain at surgery, and removed after 5 days.  I think the idea is to reduce CSF pressure and give the surgery affected areas time to heal, in hopes of avoiding CSF leaks.
Regards,
 Rob

Title: Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
Post by: Captain Deb on May 04, 2006, 07:53:41 pm

I never heard of this procedure for routine AN surgery.  No one is was at House with had this done and we had a whole floor of AN surgeries. How large is your AN? Are you a pre-treat?
Capt Deb

Title: Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
Post by: cookiesecond on May 04, 2006, 09:53:32 pm

My doctor is very experienced in dealing with Ans and I did have a lumbar drain.It was put in as soon as I got in the OR and taken out after a couple of days. I didn't have any problems with leaks.
Lynn