Alterations of nitric oxide concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage during continuous lumbar drainage

Objective To investigate the effect of continuous lumbar drainage on cerebral vasospasm and nitric oxide concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) resulting from aneurysmal rupture. Methods Fifty patients presented with SAH were randomly divided into two groups. Drainage group included 25 patients who were given continuous lumbar drainage, while control group had only lumbar punctures every two days. The concentration of nitric oxide in CSF was detected by activated cadmium reduction method. Results Two patients in drainage group developed symptomatic cerebral vasospasm, while seven patients developed in control group. The NO concentration in drainage group following drainage was significantly higher than that in control group since 5th day after bleeding. Conclusion Continuous lumbar drainage may effectively clean off subarachnoid hematocele and increase the NO concentration in CSF.