Spinal fluid profile following surgery in the subarachnoid space.
Neurotologic and skull base procedures that include dissection within the subarachnoid space carry with them the potential for meningitis. Postoperative aseptic leptomeningitis occurs more frequently than purulent bacterial meningitis. Differentiation between these two conditions early in the postoperative period is important to avoid delay in or unnecessary treatment. The definitive diagnosis is made with cerebral spinal fluid culture. Early differentiation between postoperative aseptic leptomeningitis and purulent bacterial meningitis on the basis of results of cerebral spinal fluid profile before cerebral spinal fluid culture would result in earlier appropriate therapy.
Roland
P S
PS
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dallas, TX 75235-9035.
Meyerhoff
W L
WL
Balcombe
K L
KL
Mickey
B E
BE
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005947:Glucose / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000382:microbiology; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D013256:Steroids; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000601:surgery*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D013256:Steroids; D005947:Glucose