[Intracranial pressure monitoring in children with fulminant hepatic failure].
BACKGROUND
We describe a series of 10 children with intracranial hypertension complicating fulminant hepatic failure submitted to intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring for intensive care and transplantation management.


METHODS
Information from pediatrics patients acute liver failure admitted to our hospital was collected in a standard protocol form. We analyzed data from 10 patients, medium age 5.2 years old. In this period we studied aspects as ICP transducer used, number of days with ICP monitoring and complications of ICP monitoring.


RESULTS
Hepatitis A was diagnosed in five patients and hepatitis B in two cases. The initial ICP were 2 to 24 mmHg in transducer. Seven patients died, four due to intracranial hypertension, included the patient operated for subdural hematoma, and three with transplantation failure. Only a case of hematoma was verified.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of ICP monitoring allows intensive care for aggressive ICP management. It can be used in children without adaptations.
Paiva
W S
WS
Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital das Clinicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. wellingsonpaiva@yahoo.com.br
de Andrade
A F
AF
Amorim
R L O
RL
Figueiredo
E G
EG
Matushita
H
H
Teixeira
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014160:Transducers, Pressure