SAEVA Proceedings 2018 4. Proceedings | Page 149

SAEVA Congress 2018 Proceedings | 12-15 February 2018 | ATKV Goudini Spa Collection of CSF in horses. Johnson et al. 13-20 Analysis of CSF in horses. Johnson et al. 21-26 1. The normal range of values measured in cerebrospinal fluid: Parameter Range Color Colorless Clarity Clear Glucose 55-70 mg/dl Total protein 40-80 mg/dl Creatine kinase 0-8 IU Bacterial culture No growth Viral culture No growth Nucleated cell count 0-3/µl cells) (small mononuclear 2. Technique: CSF is generally collected from the sub-arachnoid space at one of 2 sites in the horse – the atlanto-occipital site or the lumbosacral site. In both cases, the procedure should be done in sterile fashion. a. Atlanto-occipital collection Advantages: easier to obtain fluid than from the LS site, less likely to get blood contamination Disadvantages: requires general anesthesia, greater risk to the patient 18 or 20 gauge 3.5 inch spinal needle; neonatal foals – a 20 gauge 1.5 inch needle may be used Procedure: lateral recumbency An area of the poll and neck (from between the ears to six or eight inches caudally, and approximately three to four inches either side of the mane) is surgically prepared. The horse’s head is flexed so that the median axis of the head is at right angles to the median axis of the cervical vertebrae. (Such flexion of the atlanto-occipital joint can result in upper airway obstruction.) 144