Introduction

• To aid in diagnosis of neurologic disease.
• Normal CSF analysis does not rule out the possibility of CNS disease.
• CSF is an ultrafiltrate of plasma derived from the ventricular choroid plexuses and ependymal lining of ventricles, pia arachnoid and meningeal blood vessels. It provides a physical support medium for the CNS.
• CSF can be collected from the atlanto-occipital (cisternal) or the lumbosacral site.

Uses

• Suspected brain lesions.
• Suspected spinal cord lesions.
• Suspected multifocal or diffuse lesions of the CNS.

Advantages

• CSF abnormalities highly significant and of diagnostic and prognostic value.

Disadvantages

• Results of analysis may be unrewarding.
• Atlanto-occipital collection may require heavy sedation or anesthesia (although new technique performed standing under ultrasonographic guidance avoids this need).
• Lumbosacral puncture may be technically difficult to perform in a recumbent animal.
• Full aseptic precautions required.
• If dramatic drop in CSF pressure created during withdrawal of CSF, this may result in tentorial herniation and convulsions.
• Atlanto-occipital collection contraindicated if signs of brain herniation, eg dilated pupils, are present.
• Lumbosacral collection can become contaminated with blood.

Requirements

Preparation

Procedure

Aftercare

Outcomes

Prognosis

• Dependent on results of CSF analysis and response to treatment.

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Braun U, Attiger J & Brammertz C (2015) Ultrasonographic examination of the spinal cord and collection of cerebrospinal fluid from the atlanto-occipital space in cattle. BMC Vet Res 11, 227 PubMed.
• Stokol T, Divers T J, Arrigan J W  & McDonough S P (2009) Cerebrospinal fluid findings in cattle with central nervous system disorders: a retrospective study of 102 cases (1990-2008). Vet Clin Pathol 38 (1), 103-112 PubMed.
• Welles E G, Tyler J W, Sorjonen D C & Whatley E M (1992) Composition and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid in clinically normal adult cattle. Am J Vet Res 53 (11), 2050-2057 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Smith M O, George L W & Ven Metre D C (2015) In: Large Animal Internal Medicine. 5^th edn. Ed: Smith B. Chapter 35. pp 917-1014.