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

Nitin K Sekhri,1,2 Shalvi Parikh,1 Garret M Weber1,2 1Department of Anesthesiology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USA; 2Department of Anesthesiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USACorrespondence: Nitin K SekhriDepartment of Anesthesiology, Westchester Medical Center, 100 Woods Road, Macy Suite W228, Valhalla, NY 10595, USATel +1 9144937693Fax +1 9144937927Email Nitin.Sekhri@wmchealth.orgBackground: 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