Spinal Fluid

A person has surgery to remove part of the skull/vertibrate to improve fluid flow going to the head a graft was incerted. Since surgery swelling has occured, steroids have been used and stopped, further surgery performed to remove the graft implanted.Swelling to the back of the head continued and leaked through the wound. More stitches were put into the wound and a lumber tube inserted into the back. The person is told not to be sat at more than 45 degrees. Fluid flows through the tube and since insertion has collected approx 700mls in three days. How much fluid can be lost? how will the problem be fixed?

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

The brain would churn out about half a liter of CSF per day, depending on local conditions affecting hydrostatic forces.  In cases of increased intracranial pressure, this amount of CSF produced will be much less.  In the case you presented, CSF is continuously lost therefore decreasing the CSF pressure, this can lead to more CSF formation and more leakage.

Stopping the leak would really require a good surgical team.  A rehabilitation specialist should also be active in the management to facilitate good healing and recuperation.