Some pressure and fluid dynamic characteristics of the canine epidural space

Pressure measured in teh epidural space of 50 dogs was consistently negative (subatmospheric). Acutely implanted epidural catheters gave an average reading of -2.72 mmHg (n = 44, SE = 0.18), whereas chronically implanted catheters gave more negative readings, averaging -5.8 mmHg (n = 6, SE = 0.49). Since the chronically implanted catheters permit healing, resolution of hemorrhage, and resealing of the epidural space to take place, resulting in equilibration of microcirulatory forces, these readings are believed to represent more closely the true epidural pressure. Also these results approximate closely the calculated and measured interstitial fluid pressures obtained by different techniques in other loose areolar connective tissue systems. Compliance studies, using a double-lumen catheter for simultaneous recording and infusing in the epidural space, showed increasing compliance as the pressure rose into the positive pressure range, with an eventual plateau of the volume-pressure curve at the level of the concomitantly measured cerebrospinal fluid pressure (avg = +5.73 mmHg, n = 10, SE = 0.48). Intravenous volume loading using Tyrode solution caused a large rise in epidural pressure, and volume depletion with diuretics caused a significant drop in epidural pressure.