A new method for long-term lumbar pressure monitoring with a fiber optic catheter.

A new method for long-term monitoring of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure in the spinal canal using a catheter with a fiberoptic pressure monitor is described. This method has been used in the investigation of 16 patients with communicating hydrocephalus (CH). Duration of monitoring ranged from 2-48 hours without any complications. In 6 cases the recording was interrupted prematurely. Valuable data on the patterns of pressure variation could be attained and the occurrence of B-waves showed a good correlation with the clinical outcome of shunt operation. No sign of external or internal leakage of CSF was observed during the first 24 hours of monitoring. This technique could prove to be a less invasive method for evaluation of CSF-pressure in patients with CH or other diseases where CSF-pressure in the spinal canal can have some clinical significance.