CEREBROSPINAL FLUID PRESSURE UNDER CONDITIONS EXISTING AT HIGH ALTITUDES

Abstract

The literature contains conflicting data on the effect of altitude on intracranial pressure. If during the air transportation of men with head injuries the intracranial pressure should be increased, the results might be deleterious to the condition of the patients. Therefore we propose in this paper to examine the available reports which are relevant to this subject, with a view to drawing conclusions as to what changes, if any, may be expected and under what circumstances they may occur. High altitude results in the following changes in the physical environment of the body: first, reduced barometric pressure; second, reduced tension of oxygen, and third, reduced temperature. There is no change in the percentage composition of the atmospheric gases. In order to examine the effect of altitude on cerebrospinal fluid pressure, one must consider how the aforementioned changes, produced by high altitudes, would affect the well recognized mechanisms by which cerebrospinal