title: Pediatric intracranial pressure monitoring in hypoxic and nonhypoxic brain injury.
abstract: We reviewed the results of all pediatric patients undergoing intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in a 2-year period at our institution. The outcome of patients suffering hypoxia or ischemic injuries (HII) is compared to those suffering non-hypoxic or non-ischemic injuries (NHII). Thirty-four patients had ICP monitors placed during the study period. Incomplete patient information led to the exclusion of 5 patients. An additional 5 patients were excluded because no measures to control ICP were taken after the monitor was placed. Twenty-four patients required treatment for raised ICP (hyperventilation, 24; mannitol, 19; barbiturate coma, 6). Admission Glasgow Coma Score in patients suffering HII (median score 5) and NHII (median score 6) were not significantly different (Mann-Whitney U Test). Only 2 of 8 patients with HII were near-drowning victims. The remaining 6 had HII from other causes (5 survivors of various forms of asphyxia and 1 of cardiac arrest). All 8 patients had poor outcomes (1 severely disabled; 7 died). The 16 patients with NHII had a variety of diagnoses (6 trauma, 5 encephalitis, 4 bacterial meningitis, 1 diabetic ketoacidosis). Among these, 6 had good outcomes and 10 poor outcomes (2 severely disabled, 2 vegetative, and 6 died). The difference in outcome between patients with NHII and HII is significant at P = 0.059 (Fischer Exact test). Patients with NHII may benefit from ICP monitoring. Patients with HII from near-drowning and other causes did not appear to benefit from ICP monitoring and interventions directed at controlling ICP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Le Roux
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jardine
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kanev
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Loeser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007223:Infant; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011379:Prognosis