Turkish Neurosurgery
Impact of magnetic field on pressures of programmable cerebrospinal fluid shunts: an experimental study
idiris altun1, zafer yüksel1, tufan mert2
1Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Medical Faculty, neurosurgery departmant, kahramanmaraş,
2Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Medical Faculty, Department of Biophysics, kahramanmaraş,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.16795-15.2
Aim:To investigate whether programmable CSF shunts are influenced by exposure to the magnetic field and to compare the effects of magnetic field in 4 different brands of programmable CSF shunts. Material and Methods:This experimental study was performed in the laboratory using a novel design of magnetic field. Four types of programmable CSF shunts (Miethke®, Medtronic®, Sophysa® and Codman®Hakim®) were exposed to the magnetic field generated by an apparatus consisting of Helmholtz coil for 5 minutes. In every CSF shunt, initial pressures were adjusted to 110 mmH2O and pressures after exposure to magnetic field were noted. These measurements were implemented at frequencies of 5 Hz, 20 Hz, 30 Hz, 40 Hz, 60 Hz and 80 Hz. In each type, three shunts were utilized and evaluations were made twice for every shunt.Results:At 5, 30, 40 and 60 Hz, Groups 1, 2 and 3 had significantly higher average pressures than Group 4. At 20 and 80 Hz, Groups 1 and 2 had notably different pressure values than Groups 3 and 4. Group 3 displayed the highest pressure, while Group 4 demonstrated the lowest pressure. Conclusion:The results of this experimental study remind that exposure to magnetic fields may affect the pressures of programmable CSF shunts. However, further controlled, clinical trials are warranted to elucidate the in-vivo effects of magnetic field exposure.
Corresponding author : idiris altun