A COMPARISON OF SIMPLE TESTS TO DISTINGUISH CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID FROM SALINE

Purpose: This prospective study was undertaken to determine if anesthe siologists of different levels of training, using simple tests, can di stinguish cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from saline. Methods: Thirty-two a naesthetists, divided into four groups, dependent upon levels of train ing, participated in the study, Each was asked to distinguish saline f rom an artificial CSF solution using four different tests: tactile tem perature, glucose strip, pH strip, and turbidity when mixed with thiop ental. Results: Participants identified cerebrospinal fluid correctly with 84% accuracy using the temperature test, 97%, using the glucose t est, 91% using the pH test, and 50% using the thiopentone test. More t han half of the participants guessed while using the thiopentone test, and those who did not guess were only 47% accurate. Conclusion: Level of training made no difference in distinguishing CSF from saline. No one test was 100% reliable. Clinical utility of the thiopentone test a ppears to be limited. The temperature, glucose, and pH tests, when use d together, appear to be a useful way of distinguishing CSF from salin e.