Article
Non-invasive assessment of intracranial pressure with venous ophthalmodynamometry
Nicht invasive Untersuchung des intrakraniellen Hirndruckes mittels Ophthalmodynamometrie
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Published: | April 23, 2004 |
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Outline
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Objective
The only way to identify increased intracranial pressure (ICP) up to date is by invasive procedures. As the venous outflow from the retina is exposed to intracranial pressure, since the optic nerve is engulfed by a sheath of cerebrospinal fluid, a relation of retinal venous outflow pressure and ICP appears likely. Venous ophthalmodynamometry (ODM) is an established way to register the current pressure of central retinal vein.
Methods
In 72 patients the pressure of the central retinal vein was measured by ODM while at the same time the intracranial pressure was recorded by an intraventricular catheter (IVC) implanted for various reasons like hydrocephalus [30 patients], subarachnoidal (SAB) or intracerebral haemorrhage (ICB) [30 patients] and head injury or brain tumours [12 patients]. The findings of the ODM were compared with the results of conventional invasive ICP measurement.
Results
A linear statistically significant correlation between the retinal venous outflow pressure and the intracranial pressure was confirmed.
Conclusions
ODM is a reliable method for the assessment of ICP. The technique can easily be repeated. Among the non-invasive options to assess ICP, venous ODM appears to be the most dependable method.