Comparison Of Digital Manometer And Water Column Manometer Pressures Measurements During Lumbar Puncture

Abstract

Background

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure measurement is routinely performed via a conventional water column manometer. There is increasing interest in using a digital manometer in measuring CSF pressures. The aim of this study is to compare column and digital manometers, in addition to measuring time to acquire the pressure readings.

Research design and methods

This prospective study included 27 patients who were referred for a fluoroscopically guided lumbar puncture. Opening pressure and closing pressure measurements were done with a digital manometer and then a traditional water column manometer. The time to obtain each pressure measurement was also recorded and compared.

Results

Mean time to obtain pressure reading was significantly lower in the digital manometer group when compared to the water column manometer group (8.1 seconds vs. 42.2 seconds, P<0.05 for opening pressure and 8.92 seconds vs. 45.15 seconds, P<0.05 for closing pressure). Correlation between the opening pressure measurements (Pearson coefficient r= 0.98) and closing pressure (Pearson coefficient r= 0.89) was strong. However, the digital manometer reading consistently read higher.

Conclusion

Digital manometry during an LP yielded is faster however there might be a clinical difference between the devices. Clinicians must be careful in using the device across all cases.

Keywords:

• lumbar puncture
• opening pressure
• closing pressure
• IIH
• idiopathic intracranial hypertension
• normal pressure hydrocephalus
• digital manometer

Acknowledgment

The authors thank the administration and staff of the radiology department at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY along with Maureen Cooney, DNP for being a mentor.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this work.