Abstract
Background The dynamics of intracranial pressure (ICP) after shunt surgery in patients with
normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) are poorly known. Temporarily implanted parenchymal
pressure probes are reliable for accurate ICP monitoring; however, a disadvantage
of this method is that the ICP probe has to be explanted after a period of time, requiring
additional surgery. We present two patients with NPH with an integrated ICP measuring
device in the shunt system that allows for long-term postoperative telemetric monitoring
of ICP.
Methods Two patients (one man, 66 years old, and one woman, 78 years old) with normal pressure
hydrocephalus underwent shunt surgery using the Aesculap-Miethke Sensor Reservoir
(Potsdam) as an ICP measuring device integrated in the shunt system. On the first
postoperative day and during follow-up examination 3 months later, several measurements
of ICP were performed using a handheld device to read the Sensor Reservoir data. Postural
changes such as lying down, sitting, and standing with different head postures were
assessed according to an experimental protocol in a randomized order during which
the ICP was measured.
Results There were clear ICP responses due to postural changes, in line with physiologically
expected values. Because the highest sampling rate of the Aesculap-Miethke Sensor
Reservoir is 1 Hz for continuous measurement of ICP, however, the collected data have
to be considered an approximation for actual ICP dynamics.
Conclusion The Aesculap-Miethke Sensor Reservoir is an easy-to-use tool to measure ICP changes
reliably in patients with a shunt system. The sampling rate and handling of data acquisition
may eventually be developed further.
Keywords
intracranial pressure - normal pressure hydrocephalus - telemetric monitoring
