Indications for Intracranial Pressure Monitoring

Monitoring of Intracranial Pressure (ICP) is an invasive technique and has some associated risks. For a favorable risk-to-benefit ratio, ICP monitoring is indicated only in patients with significant risk of intracranial hypertension.

Indications for ICP Monitoring

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Score: 3–8 (after resuscitation)

1. Abnormal Admission Head CT Scan
   1. Hematoma
   2. Contusion
   3. Edema
   4. Herniation
   5. Compressed basal cisterns
2. Normal Admission Head CT Scan PLUS 2 or more of the following
   1. Age > 40 years
   2. Motor posturing
   3. Systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg

 

References:

1. Rangel-Castillo L, Gopinath S, Robertson CS. Management of intracranial hypertension. Neurol Clin. 2008 May;26(2):521-41, [Medline]
2. Nag DS, Sahu S, Swain A, Kant S. Intracranial pressure monitoring: Gold standard and recent innovations. World J Clin Cases. 2019 Jul 6;7(13):1535-1553. [Medline]

 

Created Sep 18, 2019.