Did you know we have fluid in our body that surrounds our brain and spinal cord? That fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It is a clear liquid that is made-up mostly of water but still contains other substances like electrolytes, glucose and protein etc. CSF main jump is to protect the brain and spinal cord from sudden damage, like sudden bumps etc.
However, things can happen that would cause the fluid to be in excess in the body. If this fluid is left without treatment, it can cause a condition called hydrocephalus. That’s where cerebrospinal fluid drainage comes in. CSF drainage is a medical procedure that removes the extra cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord. In this article, we’re going to learn about the types, procedures, and management of cerebrospinal fluid drainage.
Types of Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage
Cerebrospinal fluid drainage is a different method which doctors use depending on the situation.
Lumbar Drain: In lumbar Drain, a thin tube called a catheter is placed in your lower back, where there’s a sieve around your spinal cord. The catheter drains the extra cerebrospinal fluid in the collection bag.
However, the doctor uses the lumbar drain procedure for certain reasons:
- Reduce pressure in the brain after a head injury
- Manage the leakage of the cerebrospinal fluid after a spine or brain surgery
Furthermore, this procedure is safe but it still poses some risk. You could have headaches from losing too much cerebrospinal fluid during the procedures. In some rare cases, the spinal cord could bleed or get injured. Lastly, the area where the tube was inserted into the lower back can get infected.
Ventriculostomy: The doctor can either do this externally or internally. In the external procedure, a tube goes through a small hole in the skull to drain the fluid.
It is placed into one of the ventricles, which are hollow spaces in the brain filled with fluid, which is then collected info a bag outside of the body. This method can be done for severe headaches or to remove the fluid that is causing the pressure.
Internal ventriculostomy is more of a permanent method. A shunt system is put in place to move the CSF from the ventricles where they usually stay, to another part of the body. In this case, the fluid can be moved to the stomach, that way the body can absorb the fluid more naturally. This procedure can only be done when all the other treatment options haven’t stopped the pressure on the brain.
Note: There are other cerebrospinal fluid drainage methods like cisternostomy, Lumboperitoneal Shunt, and Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV), but lumbar drain and ventriculostomy are the most common ones.
Bottom Line
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is like a protective cushion for your brain and spinal cord, but having too much of it can cause serious problems, like hydrocephalus. That’s where CSF drainage comes in; it’s a procedure that helps get rid of the extra fluid. Whether it’s through a lumbar drain or ventriculostomy, doctors use these methods to carefully control drainage and keep your brain safe.
