Measuring intracranial pressure by invasive, less invasive or non-invasive means: limitations and avenues for improvement. 2020

Karen Brastad Evensen, and Per Kristian Eide
Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital-Rikshospitalet, P.O. Box 4950, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.

Sixty years have passed since neurosurgeon Nils Lundberg presented his thesis about intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring, which represents a milestone for its clinical introduction. Monitoring of ICP has since become a clinical routine worldwide, and today represents a cornerstone in surveillance of patients with acute brain injury or disease, and a diagnostic of individuals with chronic neurological disease. There is, however, controversy regarding indications, clinical usefulness and the clinical role of the various ICP scores. In this paper, we critically review limitations and weaknesses with the current ICP measurement approaches for invasive, less invasive and non-invasive ICP monitoring. While risk related to the invasiveness of ICP monitoring is extensively covered in the literature, we highlight other limitations in current ICP measurement technologies, including limited ICP source signal quality control, shifts and drifts in zero pressure reference level, affecting mean ICP scores and mean ICP-derived indices. Control of the quality of the ICP source signal is particularly important for non-invasive and less invasive ICP measurements. We conclude that we need more focus on mitigation of the current limitations of today's ICP modalities if we are to improve the clinical utility of ICP monitoring.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007427 Intracranial Pressure Pressure within the cranial cavity. It is influenced by brain mass, the circulatory system, CSF dynamics, and skull rigidity. Intracerebral Pressure,Subarachnoid Pressure,Intracerebral Pressures,Intracranial Pressures,Pressure, Intracerebral,Pressure, Intracranial,Pressure, Subarachnoid,Pressures, Intracerebral,Pressures, Intracranial,Pressures, Subarachnoid,Subarachnoid Pressures
D001927 Brain Diseases Pathologic conditions affecting the BRAIN, which is composed of the intracranial components of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. This includes (but is not limited to) the CEREBRAL CORTEX; intracranial white matter; BASAL GANGLIA; THALAMUS; HYPOTHALAMUS; BRAIN STEM; and CEREBELLUM. Intracranial Central Nervous System Disorders,Brain Disorders,CNS Disorders, Intracranial,Central Nervous System Disorders, Intracranial,Central Nervous System Intracranial Disorders,Encephalon Diseases,Encephalopathy,Intracranial CNS Disorders,Brain Disease,Brain Disorder,CNS Disorder, Intracranial,Encephalon Disease,Encephalopathies,Intracranial CNS Disorder
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D064926 Neurophysiological Monitoring The systematic checking of the condition and function of a patient's CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM during disease periods or following injuries, using various NEUROLOGICAL DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES. Neurophysiologic Monitoring,Monitoring, Neurophysiologic,Monitoring, Neurophysiological

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