XANTHOCHROMIA

Course overview

XANTHOCHROMIA IS THE PRESENCE OF BILIRUBIN IN THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AND IS SOMETIMES THE ONLY SIGN OF AN ACUTE SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE. HOWEVER, IT CAN ALSO BE AN IATROGENIC FINDING ASSOCIATED WITH A TRAUMATIC CEREBROSPINAL FLUID TAP, AND DISTINGUISHING THESE ETIOLOGIES FROM ONE ANOTHER IS CRITICAL. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF XANTHOCHROMIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.