Severe head trauma remains an important public health issue and the intracranial pressure monitoring is useful in indicating the patients prognosis, variation especially elevated intracranial pressure were associated with a poor prognosis. We illustrate some cases where we insert the monitoring system (intraparenchymal or intraventricular) and the neurological evolution

Iordache, Alin

Munteanu, Raluca

Cosman, Mihaela

Turliuc, Dana-Mihaela

London Academic Publishing Ltd.: Arts & Humanities Journals

   Romanian Neurosurgery (2012) XIX 1    Intracranial pressure monitoring in neurosurgery department in Iasi – latest developments Alin Iordache1, Raluca Munteanu2, Mihaela Cosman2,  Dana-Mihaela Turliuc1 1“Gr.T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi 2“Prof. Dr. N. Oblu” Clinical Hospital, Iasi  Abstract Severe head trauma remains an important public health issue and the intracranial pressure monitoring is useful in indicating the patients prognosis, variation especially elevated intracranial pressure were associated with a poor prognosis. We illustrate some cases where we insert the monitoring system (intraparenchymal or intraventricular) and the neurological evolution. Keywords: intracranial pressure monitoring, severe head trauma, Camino monitor. Introduction The brain functions and survival depends on cerebral blood flow (CBF). This is a parameter difficult to estimate. In turn CBF depends on cerebral perfusion pressure (CCP) which is associated with intracranial pressure (ICP-easier to quantify). In severe head trauma patients recent study suggested that elevated ICP is more dangerous than changes in CPP. The normal range of ICP varies with age (in adults < 10 -15 mmHg). In 2010 our department of Neurosurgery made an important step in the management of head trauma patients when we introduced the intracranial pressure monitoring. (1, 7)   ICP monitoring was made according with guidelines: 1. neurologic criteria: severe head injury (GCS<= 8);  2. an abnormal admitting head CT (contusion, cerebral edema, hematoma  with or without midline shift >5mm / cisterns compressed or absent ); 3. a normal CT but with more them 2 risk factors: age >40 yrs, decerebrate or decorticate posturing on motor exam (unilateral or bilateral ), systolic blood pressure <90mmHg (3, 11). There are different types of system for ICP monitoring (6): 1. intraventricular catheter (ICV) - golden standard: advantages: good accuracy in measuring the pressure, allows therapeutic CSF drainage; disadvantages: may be difficult to insert into displaced or compressed ventricles, obstruction of the fluid column (blood clot); 2. subarachnoid catheter: advantages: infectious and hemorrhagic complication  are decreased (1 %); disadvantage: surface of brain may occlude lumen resulting in false readings; 3. intraparenchymal catheter: advantage: good accuracy in measuring the pressure; disadvantage: does not allow therapeutic CSF drainage.     Alin Iordache et al          Intracranial pressure monitoring in neurosurgery department in Iasi    Material and methods  In our study the major criteria for ICP monitoring was GCS <8 were excluded those patients with intracranial surgical lesions who were operated. The intervention was important because most of the patients with severe head injury were forensic cases and from ethical point of view we had to evacuate any diagnosed lesions even though the ICP was not increased. The system used for ICP monitoring was Camino SPM-1 (Figure 1A) made by Integra. This type of monitor uses a transducer with optic fiber to record information, the reference point is the atmospheric pressure.   We used intraventricular catheter -1104HM type (Figure 1C) with optic fiber transducer and intraparenchymal catheter -1104B type (Figure 1B) when the ventricles size were reduced. The ventricular catheter was placed in the frontal horn in the Kocher’s point.   A  B  C Figure 1 A Camino SPM-1 system;  B intraparenchymal catheter;  C intraventricular catheter.  The drainage system 1104HB and 1104B are sterile and disposable. The specialty literature shows that the incidence of infectious complication increases after 5-7 days of use. Our monitoring study was a retrospective one , the author was directly involved in monitor placing and tracking patient progress. The study lot  was formed by 10 patients.        Romanian Neurosurgery (2012) XIX 1    Illustrive cases  1. Female age 30 presents with a severe head trauma from a car accindent. Other organic lesions are excluded by thoraco-abdominal-pelvis CT scan. Her neurologic status was GCS=4 with hyperextension of upper and lower left limbs and Babinski sign positive bilateral. Craniocerebral CT scan shows diffuse cerebral edema in the right hemisphere with mild subfalcine herniation, frontal subarachnoid hemorrhage (Figure 2A) on the right side, multiple hemorrhagic petechiae lesions 2-3mm diameter located predominantly frontal bilatera (Figure 2B) and left temporal bone fracture. Transcranial Doppler examination by temporal bone window reveals the presence of flow in both sylvian arteries and the flow speed beeing 60 cm / s bilaterally. The patient presents indirect radiological signs of diffuse axonal injury, but also presents the clinical features of intracranial pressure monitoring.    A  B Figure 2 A subarachnoid hemorrhage B petechiae lesions  Regarding the small size of ventricles and cerebral edema predominantly on the right hemisphere we decided to place an intraparenchymatos catheter on the right side (Figure 3).    Figure 3 the pressure transducer    Alin Iordache et al          Intracranial pressure monitoring in neurosurgery department in Iasi    The initial value of ICP was 25 mmHg and after administration of mannitol decrease, reaching at 18 mmHg. Immediately postoperative neurological evolution shows some improvement. The patient has subsequently intracranial pressure values of 3 to 6 mmHg. CT examination was performed for radiological control. There is improvement of cerebral edema. During the second day neurological status deteriorates. Another CT scan is performed which confirms the transducer drift (Figure 4) and shows the emphasize of the petechiae lesions (Figure 5).   A  B Figure 4 A transducer present  B transducer absent  Figure 5 Hemorrhagic petechiae lesions  He was intubated for 10 days, the neurological evolution was slightly favorable with discrete movement on her left extremities. At 6 month she recovered quite well with slight hemiparesis on the left side and the MRI control showed no residual sequeles.   2. A 29 years old patient presents with a severe head trauma, thoracic contusion from a car accident. The neurological exam relieves areactive pupils, left ear otorrhea and  GCS=5. Cranio-cerebral CT scan shows subarachnoid hemorrhage, left temporal and right frontal hemorrhagic contusion, temporal bone fracture, diffuse cerebral edema (Figure 6), subdural hematoma on the right hemisphere and anterior interhemispheric hematoma (Figure 7A). The ventricular system appears slightly asymmetric with left side subfalcine herniation phenomena (Figure 7B). The neurological status worsens and he become coma grade IV. We put a parenchymal catheter on the left side and a ventricular catheter in the right ventricle (Figure 8).    Romanian Neurosurgery (2012) XIX 1     A  B Figure 6 A Subarachnoid hemorrhage, temporal hemorrhagic contusion, left temporal bone fracture;   B frontal hemorrhagic contusion with diffuse cerebral edema  A  B Figure 7 A subdural hematoma on the right hemisphere and anterior interhemispheric hematoma;  B mild ventricules asymetry with left side subfalcine herniation.    Alin Iordache et al          Intracranial pressure monitoring in neurosurgery department in Iasi     A    Postoperative neurological status was stationary and he became a candidate for organs transplantation.   B Figure 8 A right intraventriclar catheter;  B left intraparenchymal catheter Disscutions  We study a number of 10 patients all of them had GCS<8. The craniocerebral CT scan made on admission showed different types of lesions (Figure 9).   Figure 9 Cerebral lesion found at CT scan  All the patients had another associated lesions (Figure 10).  Cerebral lesions27%23%18%18%14%cerebral edemasubdural hematoma hemorrhagic contusionsubarachnoid hemorrhagepetechiae hemorrhagiclesion   Romanian Neurosurgery (2012) XIX 1     Figure 10 Associated  lesions  The neurological status on addmision was GCS 6 – 3 (Figure 11).  Figure 11 Neurological status on admission   Figure 12 Neurological status at discharge  Associated lesions30%30%20%20% basal skull fracturetemporal bone fracturethoracic contusionupper limbs contusionNeurological status on admission30%30%40% coma grade II coma grade IIIcoma grade  IVNeurological status at discharge80%20%deathhemiparesis   Alin Iordache et al          Intracranial pressure monitoring in neurosurgery department in Iasi    The number of patinets is not extensive. This  has an objective reasons. The major impediment in achieving a more extensive study is the material one. Intracranial pressure monitor system cost is still prohibitive for our health system - which is between 500 and 700 €. Another reason is the ethical and the same time – legal reason. Patients with neurosurgical lesions (acute subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma, contusions with important mass effect) requires quick intervention and follow-up of intracranial pressure for such injuries would mean loss of valuable time.  Even that placing an intracranial pressure transducer is a minimally invasive surgical procedure it involves intraoperative risks that should be explained and detailed to patient attendants. In some cases attendants do not accept the surgical risks and the fact that the benefits would not be immediately remarked.  Most patients studied had as expected a poor outcome (Figure 12). Most studies conducted so far on patients with severe head trauma at presentation, after removing the effects of any sedation, continues to present a state of coma grade III or grade IV and has a mortality reaching 90%. As mentioned above the statistical value data is questionable due to a relatively small number of cases (2, 4). After insertion of the pressure transducer patient should be monitored for early detection of intracranial complications especially for hemorrhage. For this it is necessary to perform cranio-cerebral computer tomography at short interval after catheter insertion (5). This may be because the neurological worsening in a patient that is already in coma, intubated and artificially ventilated is difficult to detect. All the patient from our study performed an CT scan within 12 hours of monitoring onset. Intracranial pressure monitoring was done by direct reading of pressure values on the monitor display every 2 hours. In general the neurological evaluation is difficult in patients with severe head trauma. They may be evaluated at about 2-3 hours after sedation removal. This assessment was made daily. Beside the ICP we monitorised the temperature (10), arterial blood pressure and  heart rate. The ICP variation is shown below.   Figure 13 ICP variation – patient no. 1     Romanian Neurosurgery (2012) XIX 1     Figure 14 ICP variation – patient no. 2  Conclusion  ICP monitoring is usually a safe technique complication rate remains low even in the context of the catheter placement by people with less experience. It is useful  in indicating the patients prognosis - ICP variation  especially elevated intracranial pressure were associated with a poor prognosis (8, 9). It supports the diagnosis of brain death, especially in cases where the series EEG is not conclusive. The indication for ICP monitoring should be extended to patients who were operated for surgical removal of a traumatic brain lesion and who have other injuries that may lead to increased intracranial pressure. A favorable outcome  can be achieved only in the context of good collaboration with intensive care services because variations (upward or downward) of the intracranial pressure must be declared and treated with medication or surgical intervention (14). Those patients should be more intense monitorised and in special carefully manipulated because exist the risk of removing the catheter. Lack of continuous monitoring makes difficult to change the conservative  treatment  into  an   aggressive   surgical conduct in time. The evolution of  patients who underwent intracranial pressure monitoring as well as other with severe head trauma was aggravated by respiratory infections (13). A bad outcome in patients with severe head injury who underwent ICP monitoring was associated with significant variations in blood pressure. A factor with poor prognostic was the association with elevated blood glucose repeatedly (12). In the group of patients who did not have ICP monitoring we observed an increased mortality and also an increased rate of complications associated with prolonged stay in intensive care department. The vital prognosis of patients with severe head trauma was only one element of the study and it was not neglected the functional aspect and the social impact associated with patient who survived. The role of this study is to create conditions for a better approach of those patients and this can be achieved only under the conditions of investigation and treatment protocols which must be mandatory but also feasible, adapted to current conditions of our hospital.  One of the conclusions of the study is the fact that it is imperative to be reduced    Alin Iordache et al          Intracranial pressure monitoring in neurosurgery department in Iasi    the duration between the event (craniocerebral trauma) and therapeutic intervention – ICP monitor placement. Another aspect with importance on vital prognosis for polytraumatized patients with craniocerebral components it is the necessity of specialized units, qualified, currently non-existent. Severe head trauma remains an important public health issue and leaves space for fundamental research, imaging and epidemiological studies. References 1.  A. I. R. Maas, M. Dearden, G. M. Teasdale, R. Braakman, F. Cohadon, F. Iannotti, A. Karimi, F. Lapierre, G. Murray and J. Ohman, et al. - EBIC-Guidelines for management of severe head injury in adults, Acta Neurochir (Wien) (1997) 139: 286–294. 2. Alkhoury F, Courtney J. - Outcomes after severe head injury: a National Trauma Data Bank-based comparison of Level I and Level II trauma centers, Am Surg. 2011 Mar;77(3):277-80. 3. Arbour R. Intracranial hypertension: monitoring and nursingassessment. Crit Care Nurse 2004;24(5): 19-32; 4. 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Schoser BG, Riemenschneider N, Hansen HC. The impact of raised intracranial pressure on cerebral venous hemodynamics: a prospective venous transcranial Doppler ultrasonography study. J Neurosurg. 1999;91(5):744-749. 10.Thompson HJ, Kirkness CJ, Mitchell PH - Hypothermia and rapid rewarming is associated with worse outcome following traumatic brain injury, J Trauma Nurs. 2010 Oct-Dec;17(4):173-7; 11.Timmons SD. - Current trends in neurotrauma care, Crit Care Med. 2010 Sep;38(9 Suppl):S431-44 ; 12.Yang SY, Zhang S, Wang ML: Clinical significance of admission hyperglycemia and factors related to it in patients with acute severe head injury. Surg Neurol 44:373–377, 1995 13.Zeng T, Gao L. - Management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury guided by intraventricular intracranial pressure monitoring: a report of 136 cases, Chin J Traumatol. 2010 Jun 1;13(3):146-51; 14.Zhang LY, Yao YZ, Jiang DP, Zhou J, Huang XK, Shen Y, Huang J. - Surgical treatment strategy for multiple injury patients in ICU., Chin J Traumatol. 2011 Feb 1;14(1):42-5;  

Intracranial pressure monitoring in neurosurgery department in Iasi – latest developments

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Intracranial pressure monitoring in neurosurgery department in Iasi – latest developments

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