Swiss medical weekly
-
Swiss medical weekly · Aug 1982
[Experience with measurements of intracranial pressure in post-hypoxic and post-traumatic coma].
In 27 patients intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP) was carried out for 4-5 days (severe head injury 23, hypoxia after cardiac arrest 3, brain tumor 1). Patients were included who reached a score of 8 or less on the Glasgow Coma Scale and who did not need immediate surgery. The measurements were done with epidural screws (20 patients) and with indwelling ventricular catheters 7). ⋯ Poor Glasgow scores were linked to high mortality. The advantages and disadvantages of the two ICP monitoring techniques are discussed. ICP monitoring is recommended as a useful and safe tool for titrated management of deeply comatose patients.