Eighteen patients (mean age of 66 5 years) with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) underwent a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery. Prior to operation a cerebrospinal fluid tap-test (CSF-TT) was performed with measurements of gait pattern and psychometric functions (memory, visuo-motor speed and visuo-constructive skills) before and after the removal of 50 ml CSF by lumbar puncture (LP) Fifteen patients improved and 3 were unchanged after surgery. Short duration of disease, gait disturbance preceding mental deterioration, wide temporal horns and small sulci on CT-scan were associated with good outcome after shunting. There was a good correlation between the results of CSF-TT and shunt surgery (X2 = 4.11, phi = 0 48, p < 0.05), with gait test showing highest correlation (r = 0 99, p = 0.01). In conclusion, this version of CSF-TT proved to be an effective test to predict improvement after shunting in patients with NPH.
CITATION STYLE
Damasceno, B. P., Carelli, E. F., Honorato, D. C., & Facure, J. J. (1997). The predictive value of cerebrospinal fluid tap-test in normal pressure hydrocephalus. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 55(2), 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X1997000200003
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