Beware CSF pressure measured under general anaesthesia

Wraige et al describe three children suffering from idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in the absence of papilloedema.1 MRI findings in two cases along with an initial symptomatic improvement following lumbar puncture support the diagnosis. In the third case MRI scan was normal and the child’s headaches did not respond to lumbar puncture or acetazolamide. In all three cases CSF pressure was measured under general anaesthesia with control of position and of carbon dioxide concentration, presumably by end-tidal CO2 monitoring. The anaesthetic technique is not reported. The …