Author Topic: Draining CSF prior to surgery?  (Read 2212 times)

arcteryx

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Draining CSF prior to surgery?
« 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!

jenifyer

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Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
« Reply #1 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

Cheryl R

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Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
« Reply #2 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.
Right mid fossa 11-01-01
  left tumor found 5-03,so have NF2
  trans lab for right facial nerve tumor
  with nerve graft 3-23-06
   CSF leak revision surgery 4-07-06
   left mid fossa 4-17-08
   near deaf on left before surgery
   with hearing much improved .
    Univ of Iowa for all care

Battyp

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Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2006, 08:41:17 am »
I don't remember a lumbar drain..sounds like something I'd remember? 

HeadCase2

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Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
« Reply #4 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
1.5 X 1.0 cm AN- left side
Retrosigmoid 2/9/06
Duke Univ. Hospital

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Captain Deb

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Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
« Reply #5 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
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50-ish with a 1x.7x.8cm.AN
Mid-fossa HEI, Jan 03 Friedman & Hitselberger
Chronic post-op headaches
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cookiesecond

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Re: Draining CSF prior to surgery?
« Reply #6 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