Cerebrospinal fluid tap

Abstract

PHOTOS 1,2: A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap test is done to collect CSF for the diagnosis of inflammatory central nervous system disorders, encephalopathies and myelopathies. The collection is done under general anaesthesia. The fluid is usually collected from the cisterna magna in the dog. The skin on the neck and the back of the head is shaved and prepared for surgery. The dog is placed in lateral recumbency and the head is held at a 90° angle. The needle is inserted just cranial to the wing of the atlas. CSF drips into the collection tubes; about 1ml of CSF is needed for analysis. The needle is then removed. After the procedure the patient should be monitored for neurologic deficits due to iatrogenic trauma.REFERENCE: PHOTOS 1,2: Côte, E 2007, ‘Clinical veterinary advisor dogs and cats’, Mosby Elsevier, St. Louis, pp.1207-1209.