Intraoperative Measurement of Intracranial Pressure During Cranial Vault Remodeling in Children with Craniosynostosis

Purpose In this study, we analyzed the utility of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring intraoperatively for deciding height reduction and need for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion during cranial vault remodeling in children with multisutural craniosynostosis (CS). Methods This is a retrospective observational study of children who underwent surgery for CS and ICP monitoring during surgery. The ICP was monitored using an external ventricular drainage catheter. The ICP monitoring was continued during the entire procedure. Results A total of 28 (19 boys) children with the involvement of two or more sutures underwent ICP monitoring during surgery. The commonest pattern of suture involvement was bicoronal seen in 16 (57.1%) children followed by pancraniosynostoses in eight (28.6%) cases. The mean opening ICP was 23 mm Hg, which dropped to 10.9 mm Hg after craniotomy. The ICP increased transiently to 19.5 mm Hg after height reduction, and the mean ICP at closure was 16.2 mm Hg. The ICP recordings helped in undoing the height reduction in two children and ventriculoperitoneal shunt after surgery in two children. Conclusions Intraoperative monitoring of ICP helps in deciding the type of cranial vault remodeling and the need for CSF diversion after surgery.

The Relationship between Serum Sodium, Serum Osmolality, and Intracranial Pressure in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Treated with Hyperosmolar Therapy

Background Treatment of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is controversial. Hyperosmolar therapy is used to prevent cerebral edema in these patients. Many intensivists measure direct correlates of these agents—serum sodium and osmolality. We seek to provide context on the utility of using these measures to estimate ICP in TBI patients. Materials and Methods Patients admitted with TBI who required ICP monitoring from 2008 to 2012 were included. Intracranial pressure, serum sodium, and serum osmolality were assessed prior to hyperosmotic therapy then at 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 hours after admission. A linear regression was performed on sodium, osmolality, and ICP at baseline and serum sodium and osmolality that corresponded with ICP for 6-72-hour time points. Results 136 patients were identified. Patients with initial measures were included in the baseline analysis (n = 29). Patients who underwent a craniectomy were excluded from the 6-72-hour analysis (n = 53). Initial ICP and serum sodium were not significantly correlated (R2 .00367, P = .696). Initial ICP and serum osmolality were not significantly correlated (R2 .00734, P = .665). Intracranial pressure and serum sodium 6-72 hours after presentation were poorly correlated (R2 .104, P < .0001), as were ICP and serum osmolality at 6-72 hours after presentation (R2 .116, P < .0001). Discussion Our results indicate initial ICP is not correlated with serum sodium or osmolality suggesting these are not useful initial clinical markers for ICP estimation. The association between ICP and serum sodium and osmolality after hyperosmolar therapy was poor, thus may not be useful as surrogates for direct ICP measurements.

A Novel Noninvasive Technique for Intracranial Pressure Waveform Monitoring in Critical Care

Background: We validated a new noninvasive tool (B4C) to assess intracranial pressure waveform (ICPW) morphology in a set of neurocritical patients, correlating the data with ICPW obtained from invasive catheter monitoring. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring were consecutively evaluated using the B4C sensor. Ultrasound-guided manual internal jugular vein (IJV) compression was performed to elevate ICP from the baseline. ICP values, amplitudes, and time intervals (P2/P1 ratio and time-to-peak [TTP]) between the ICP and B4C waveform peaks were analyzed. Results: Among 41 patients, the main causes for ICP monitoring included traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and stroke. Bland–Altman’s plot indicated agreement between the ICPW parameters obtained using both techniques. The strongest Pearson’s correlation for P2/P1 and TTP was observed among patients with no cranial damage (r = 0.72 and 0.85, respectively) to the detriment of those who have undergone craniotomies or craniectomies. P2/P1 values of 1 were equivalent between the two techniques (area under the receiver operator curve [AUROC], 0.9) whereas B4C cut-off 1.2 was predictive of intracranial hypertension (AUROC 0.9, p < 000.1 for ICP > 20 mmHg). Conclusion: B4C provided biometric amplitude ratios correlated with ICPW variation morphology and is useful for noninvasive critical care monitoring.

Effect of Robot-Assisted Neuroendoscopic Hematoma Evacuation Combined Intracranial Pressure Monitoring for the Treatment of Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of robot-assisted neuroendoscopic hematoma evacuation combined intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring for the treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH).Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 53 patients with HICH undergoing neuroendoscopic hematoma evacuation in our department from January 2016 to December 2020 was performed. We divided the patients into two groups: the neuroendoscopic group (n = 32) and the robot-assisted neuroendoscopic combined ICP monitoring group (n = 21). Data on clinical characteristics, treatment effects, and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed between these two groups.Results: The operation time of the procedure of the neuroendoscopic group was significantly longer than that of the robot-assisted neuroendoscopic combined ICP-monitoring group (mean time 153.8 ± 16.8 vs. 132.8 ± 15.7 min, P &lt; 0.001). The intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in the robot-assisted neuroendoscopic combined ICP-monitoring group than in the neuroendoscopic group (215.4 ± 28.3 vs. 190.1 ± 25.6 ml, P = 0.001). However, the patients undergoing neuroendoscopic had a comparable hematoma clearance rate with those undergoing robot-assisted neuroendoscopic combined ICP monitoring (85.2 ± 4.8 vs. 89.2 ± 5.4%, P = 0.997). The complications rate was greater in the endoscopic group (25%) than in the robot-assisted neuroendoscopic combined ICP-monitoring group (9.5%) but without significant difference (P = 0.159). We also found that the dose of used mannitol was significantly less in the ICP monitoring group (615.2 ± 63.8 vs. 547.8 ± 65.3 ml, P &lt; 0.001) and there was a significant difference in modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at discharge, patients with less mRS score in the robot-assisted neuroendoscopic combined ICP monitoring group than in the neuroendoscopic group (3.0 ± 1.0 vs. 3.8 ± 0.8, p = 0.011). Patients undergoing robot-assisted neuroendoscopic combined ICP monitoring had better 6-month functional outcomes, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.004). Besides, multivariable analysis shows younger age, no complication, and robot-assisted neuroendoscopic combined ICP monitoring were predictors of 6-month favorable outcomes for the patients with HICH.Conclusion: Robot-assisted neuroendoscopic hematoma evacuation combined with ICP monitoring appears to be safer and more effective as compared to the neuroendoscopic hematoma evacuation in the treatment of HICH. Robot-assisted neuroendoscopic hematoma evacuation combined with ICP monitoring might improve the clinical effect and treatment outcomes of the patients with HICH.

PATIENT SAFETY CHECKLIST IN NEUROANAESTHESIA: AN IMPACT ON PROTOCOL AND OUTCOME.

BACKGROUND: Surgical safety checklists is a common tool to prevent human fallacies and may help in avoiding complications .Major surgeries like neurosurgery need a thorough preparation and a specic checklist tailored to neurosurgery which may serve the purpose .So we intend to follow the neurosurgical safety checklist to elude anticipated complications. Objectives 1. To identify the adherence to various elements of the Modied WHO SSC for neurosurgery. 2. To analyse how a mandatory speciality-specic checklist practice can help in early identication of those interventions that are specic to neurosurgery, which can otherwise be overlooked. METHODOLOGY: Ÿ Study Design: Observational study Ÿ Duration of study: From May 2021 to August 2021. Ÿ Sampling Method: Convenience sampling Ÿ Sampling Procedure: Systematic Random Sampling. RESULT: This study was carried out in 77 patients undergoing various neurosurgery procedures and was found that none of the patients had diagnosis, procedure written on the name tag in pre-op period and ICP monitoring tools were not available. It was found that the anaesthesiologist as a safety list coordinator can implement the checklist ensuring minimal complications related to the surgery and also active involvement of all the members. CONCLUSION: The implementation of surgical safety checklist for Neurosurgery, by a designated checklist co-ordinator, can rectify anaesthetic and surgical facets promptly, without increasing the time required for the operation and also reduces the risk for post-op recovery.

Noninvasive detection of elevated ICP using spontaneous tympanic membrane pulsation

Neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hydrocephalus may lead to intracranial pressure (ICP) elevation. Current diagnosis methods rely on direct pressure measurement, while CT, MRI and other expensive imaging may be used. However, these invasive or expensive testing methods are often delayed because symptoms of elevated ICP are non-specific. Invasive methods, such as intraventricular catheter, subdural screw, epidural sensor, lumbar puncture, are associated with an increased risk of infection and hemorrhage. On the other hand, noninvasive, low-cost, accurate methods of ICP monitoring can help avoid risks and reduce costs while expediting diagnosis and treatment. The current study proposes and evaluates a novel method for noninvasive ICP monitoring using tympanic membrane pulsation (TMp). These signals are believed to be transmitted from ICP to the auditory system through the cochlear aqueduct. Fifteen healthy subjects were recruited and TMp signals were acquired noninvasively while the subjects performed maneuvers that are known to change ICP. A custom made system utilizing a stethoscope headset and a pressure transducer was used to perform these measurements. Maneuvers included head-up-tilt, head-down-tilt and hyperventilation. When elevated ICP was induced, significant TMp waveform morphological changes were observed in each subject (p < 0.01). These changes include certain waveform slopes and high frequency wave features. The observed changes were reversed by the maneuvers that decreased ICP (p < .01). The study results suggest that TMp waveform measurement and analysis may offer an inexpensive, noninvasive, accurate tool for detection and monitoring of ICP elevations. Further studies are warranted to validate this technique in patients with pathologically elevated ICP.

Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Single Institution Experience in a Middle-Income Country

Introduction: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem usually resulting in mortality or severe disabling morbidities of the victims. Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is recently recognized as an imperative modality in the management of severe TBI, whereas growing evidence, based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), suggests that ICP monitoring does not affect the outcome when compared with clinical and radiological data-based management. Also, ICP monitoring carries a considerable risk of intracranial infection that cannot be overlooked. The aim of this study is to assess the different aspects of our current local institutional management of severe TBI using non-invasive ICP monitoring for a potential need to change our management strategy.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our data of TBI from June 2019 through January 2020. Patients with severe TBI were identified. Their demographics, Glasgow coma score (GCS) at presentation, treatments received, and imaging data were extracted from the charts. Glasgow outcome scale extended (GOS-E) at 6 months was also assessed for the patients.Results: Twenty patients with severe TBI were identified on chart review. Ten patients received only medical treatment measures to lower the ICP, whereas the other 10 patients had additional surgical interventions. In one patient, a ventriculostomy tube was inserted to monitor ICP and to drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This was complicated by ventriculostomy-associated infection (VAI) and the tube was removed. In our cohort, the total mortality rate was 40%. The average GOS-E for the survivor patients managed without ICP monitoring based on the clinical and radiological data was 6.2 at 6 months follow-up. The 6-month overall good outcome, based on GOS-E, was 33.3%.Conclusion: Although recent guidelines advocate for the use of ICP monitoring in the management of severe TBI, they remain underutilized in our practice due to many factors. External ventricular drains were mainly used to drain CSF; however, the higher rates of VAIs in our institution compared with the literature-reported rates are not in favor of the use of ICP monitoring. We recommend doing a comparative study between our current practice using clinical-and radiological-based management and subdural or intraparenchymal bolts. More structured RCTs are needed to validate these findings in our setting.