Epidemiology Commons^™

Erroneous Measurement Of Intracranial Pressure Caused By Simultaneous Ventricular Drainage: A Hydrodynamic Model Study, H. Wilkinson, Jorge Yarzebski, E. Wilkinson, Frederick Anderson

Jorge L. Yarzebski

Intracranial pressure (ICP) is often measured from intraventricular catheters, a technique that allows therapeutic drainage of ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as an aid in controlling ICP and circumventing obstruction. Drainage of CSF simultaneously with ongoing ICP measurement has been advocated as safe and efficient, and devices are commercially available to permit this practice; however, this concept has been seriously challenged, based on clinical observations. The inaccuracy induced by simultaneous CSF drainage and ICP monitoring is quantitated in this report in a mechanical brain model using a standard ventricular catheter. The following conclusions have been confirmed: 1) rapid CSF drainage induces …