Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology, September 2011, Volume 31, Issue 3

Short-Term Continuous Intraparenchymal Intracranial Pressure Monitoring in Presumed Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

The management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) depends on a reliable assessment of intracranial pressure (ICP), particularly when visual function measures or ophthalmoscopic indicators are confusing and when invasive surgical procedures are being considered. Although ICP monitoring has been widely applied in many neurologic conditions as a more reliable measure of ongoing ICP than lumbar puncture (LP), it has not often been widely used in the management of IIH.We searched the records of the University of Michigan between 2001 and 2008 for patients with IIH who had undergone LP and continuous ICP monitoring with an intraparenchymal Codman ICP Monitoring System and in whom at least 1 year of follow-up information was available. Ten patients met entry criteria.There were no complications from the ICP monitoring. ICP monitoring influenced management in all 10 patients. In 8 patients, LP had shown elevated opening pressures; in 7 of them, ICP monitoring failed to confirm a consistently high ICP. In these patients, the decision to withdraw ICP-lowering agents or shunts, or not to revise indwelling shunts, produced no change in visual function or optic disc appearance over a follow-up period of at least 1 year. In 1 patient, ICP monitoring confirmed the high ICP suggested by LP, justifying placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. In 1 patient, ICP monitoring was performed instead of LP because a petroclival mass posed a danger to the performance of LP; a shunt was subsequently placed due to elevated ICP.In providing more accurate information about ICP than about LP, short-term continuous ICP intraparenchymal monitoring may be a useful adjunct in the management of IIH when clinical data are confusing and invasive interventions are under consideration.

Short-Term Continuous Intraparenchymal Intracranial Pressure Monitoring in Presumed Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Kara F. Warden, MD, Adeela M. Alizai, MD, Jonathan D. Trobe, MD, Julian T. Hoff, MD† Background: The management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) depends on a reliable assessment of intracranial pressure (ICP), particularly when visual func-tionmeasures or ophthalmoscopic indicators are confusing and when invasive surgical procedures are being consid-ered. Although ICP monitoring has been widely applied in many neurologic conditions as a more reliable measure of ongoing ICP than lumbar puncture (LP), it has not often been widely used in the management of IIH. Methods: We searched the records of the University of Michigan between 2001 and 2008 for patients with IIH who had undergone LP and continuous ICP monitoring with an intraparenchymal Codman ICP Monitoring System and in whom at least 1 year of follow-up information was available. Ten patients met entry criteria. Results: There were no complications from the ICP monitoring. ICP monitoring influenced management in all 10 patients. In 8 patients, LP had shown elevated opening pressures; in 7 of them, ICP monitoring failed to confirm a consistently high ICP. In these patients, the decision to withdraw ICP-lowering agents or shunts, or not to revise indwelling shunts, produced no change in visual function or optic disc appearance over a follow-up period of at least 1 year. In 1 patient, ICP monitoring confirmed the high ICP suggested by LP, justifying placement of a ven-triculoperitoneal shunt. In 1 patient, ICP monitoring was performed instead of LP because a petroclival mass posed a danger to the performance of LP; a shunt was sub-sequently placed due to elevated ICP. Conclusion: In providing more accurate information about ICP than about LP, short-term continuous ICP intra-parenchymal monitoring may be a useful adjunct in the management of IIH when clinical data are confusing and invasive interventions are under consideration. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology 2011;31:202-205 doi: 10.1097/WNO.0b013e3182183c8d 2011 by North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society The diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is based on the presence of optic disc edema, elevated opening pressure on at least 1 lumbar puncture (LP), a normal cerebrospinal fluid composition, and normalMRI of the brain (1). In many cases, these features are straightforward. In some cases, however, the optic disc signs are difficult to interpret because of congenital anomaly, gliosis, or pallor. Visual field results, which depend entirely on the patient's input, may be unreliable. In these circumstances, the physician relies heavily on the opening pressure on LP as a means of determining intracranial pressure (ICP). However, LP may provide an inaccurate measure of ICP, given its known moment-to- moment fluctuations and the effects on ICP of straining, positioning, and pharmacologic sedation (2-5). Originally reported by Lundberg (6), ICP monitoring is now commonly employed in the management of head injury, poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, and craniosynostosis. Several large studies (7-11) of continuous ICP monitoring have been done to evaluate cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and elucidate possible etiologies of IIH but rarely to influence clinical management. In those few studies directed at management (3,12-15), 24-hour fluctuations in ICP ranging up to 30 cm H2O have been reported (13). ICP monitoring has not become a part of clinical practice in managing IIH perhaps because it is perceived as not providing a sufficiently reliable measure of ICP to justify its expense and potential risks. Although an in-traventricular drain connected to an external pressure transducer is still considered the gold standard for mea-surement of ICP, newer intraparenchymal devices are less †Deceased. Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology (KFW, AMA, JDT) and Neurosurgery (JTH), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Web site (www.jneuro-ophthalmology.com). Address correspondence to Jonathan D. Trobe, MD, Kellogg Eye Center, 1000 Wall Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; E-mail: [e-mail] 202 Warden et al: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2011; 31: 202-205 Original Contribution Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. invasive and carry minimal risk of infection or hemorrhage (5,16). Recent studies using the Codman ICP Monitoring System (Codman & Shurtleff, Inc., Raynham, MA), the device used in our institution, have shown that the drift from zero, an early concern with the new devices, is minimal and the recordings of ICP are as accurate as intraventricular monitoring (16,17). We present 10 cases of suspected IIH in which ICP monitoring played a pivotal role in diagnosis and management. METHODS We undertook a chart review of all patients who had undergone ICP monitoring in the management of IIH between 2001 and 2008 at the University of Michigan. Patients were excluded if follow-up information was not available for at least 1 year after monitoring. The diagnosis of IIH was based on ophthalmic manifestations, elevated opening pressure on at least 1 LP, a normal cerebrospinal fluid composition, and normal brain MRI (18). In all cases in which LP was performed at our institution, the patient was placed in the lateral decubitus position prior to mea-suring the opening pressure. All patients were examined in the University of Michigan Neuro-Ophthalmology clinics. ICP was monitored continuously for at least 24 hours using the Codman ICP Monitoring System, an intra-parenchymal pressure monitor. The procedure was performed at the bedside in the neurointensive care unit according to the following standard protocol.None of our patients experienced any complications or had any complaints about the process. The patient was placed in the supine position, and a small patch of hair was shaved 3 cm paramedially and 3 cm anterior to the coronal suture in the plane of the midpupillary line. The patient was given 7 mg of midazolam and 4 mg of morphine sulfate intravenously for sedation and analgesia. A local anes-thetic was administered into the skin, and a 2-cm linear incision was carried down to the skull. A 4-mm-diameter Codman twist drill was used to create a burr hole. The dura was perforated with the tip of an 18-gauge spinal needle. A tunneling catheter was inserted from the burr hole. The ICP monitor catheter was then placed through this tunneling device, which was then removed. The distal tip of the catheter containing the trans-ducer was placed in the exposed cortex at a depth of 1 cm. The pressure sensor was connected to a bedside monitor through a fiber optic cable. After a triphasic waveform representing the ICP (with respiratory and cardiovascular variability) appeared on the monitor, the wound was closed with a running 3-0 nylon suture. The fiber optic cable was sutured to the scalp. The procedure required about 30 minutes (4). RESULTS Ten patients formed the basis of this study, including 7 women and 3 men. Average age was 24 years (range, 7-49 years). ICP monitoring led to cessation of medical treatment for IIH in 5 patients and removal of a lumboperitoneal shunt in 1 patient. In 2 individuals (Cases 8 and 9), the clinical examination and ICP monitoring excluded the diagnosis of IIH and therapy was begun for migraine. In 2 patients (Cases 4 and 10), ICP monitoring confirmed persistent elevation of ICP and both underwent surgery with placement of a ven-triculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. Clinical data are shown in Table 1. Individual case summaries and illustrations are available online at Supplemental Digital Content 1 (see Case Reports, http://links.lww.com/WNO/A17). DISCUSSION Our 10 patients with suspected or proven IIH were all at a juncture where more invasive treatment options (shunt placement or revision) were considerations. In 8 cases, LP had shown elevated opening pressures. In 7 of them, ICP mon-itoring failed to confirm high ICP. In those 7 cases, we were able to avoid unnecessary invasive surgical options. In 1 patient (Case 4), ICP monitoring confirmed high ICP sug-gested by LP, justifying placement of a VP shunt. In 2 pa-tients (Cases 8 and 10), LP was not performed. In one of those patients (Case 8), ICP monitoring was normal, so shunt revision was not necessary; in the other patient (Case 10), ICP monitoring showed a high ICP, so a VP shunt was placed. An accurate measure of ICP was critical in guiding our management because many patients had confusing clinical manifestations. Optic discs had congenital anomalies (Cases 1, 6, and 9), gliosis (Case 5), or pallor (Cases 2, 3, 8, and 10). One patient had normal-appearing optic discs but a history of multiple elevated LP opening pressures (Case 7), raising the concern for IIH without papilledema. In many patients, visual function testing was unhelpful because of prior large visual field defects or inconsistent results on multiple testing sessions. LP has long been known to provide an imperfect measure of ICP because of difficulties and errors in patient positioning, manometric technique, leakage around the needle (19), and inherent fluctuations in ICP. Based on monitoring, it is known that ICP generally measures between 5 and 10 mm Hg above atmospheric pressure (2), but during a 12-hour period, it may fluctuate within a range of 300 mm H2O (13). Such fluctuations, together with the inaccuracies of LP opening pressures, have prompted the use of ICP monitoring. Although there has been experience with ICP monitoring in cases of traumatic brain injury, hydrocephalus, craniosy-nostosis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, there has been less experience in IIH (3,12-15). Johnston and Paterson (3) performed intraventricular ICP monitoring in 21 sus-pected IIH patients and found that 5 patients never had elevated ICP. They emphasized the value of ICP monitoring in minimizing false-positive diagnoses of IIH. Cooper et al (12) implanted a Hittman-Meyer radio-isotope- activated subdural pressure sensor device for long-term (up to 14 months) monitoring of 8 patients with IIH. LP and sensor pressures, recorded simultaneously but Warden et al: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2011; 31: 202-205 203 Original Contribution Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. TABLE 1. Clinical features of 10 patients with suspected IIH who underwent ICP monitoring Case Age/Sex Symptoms Initial Visual Acuities Initial Visual Fields (Mean Deviation: Decibels (dB)) LP Opening Pressure (cm H2O) ICP Range From Codman ICP Monitoring System (cm H2O) Management Decision Final Visual Acuities Final Visual Fields (Mean Deviation: Decibels (dB)) Duration of Follow-up (Years) 1 18/F Headache, diplopia CF OD, HM OS ND OD, 28 OS 48 2-15 Discontinue acetazolamide, medicate for migraine CF OD, 20/30 OS 24.00 OS 7 2 46/M Transient visual obscurations 20/20 OU 215 OD, 212 OS 32 3-19 Discontinue acetazolamide 20/20 OU ND 1 3 23/F Headache, transient visual obscurations, blurred vision HM OD, 20/20 OS ND OD, 25 OS 38 12-20 Discontinue acetazolamide HM OD, 20/20 OS ND 1.5 4 25/F Headache, photopsias 20/20 OU 25 OD, 22 OS 31 7-30 Place VP shunt 20/20 OU 23 OD, 22 OS 2 5 24/F Headache, vision loss CF OD, 20/30 OS 228 OS 47 2-29 Discontinue acetazolamide CF OD, 20/30 OS 228 OS 5 6 7/M Headache, blurred vision 20/20 OU 24 OD, 23 OS 20-50 2-1 Discontinue acetazolamide, medicate for migraine 20/20 OU 24 OD, 23 OS 6 7 11/M Headache 20/20 OU ND 45 5-15 Remove lumboperitoneal shunt 20/20 OU - 2 8 25/F Headache, vision loss 20/20 OU 224 OD, 217 OS ND 8-12 Medicate for migraine 20/20 OU 224 OD, 217 OS 1 9 8/F Headache 20/20 OU ‘‘Normal'' OU 23 2-17 Medicate for migraine 20/20 OU Normal OU 1 10 49/F Blurred vision 20/20 OD, NLP OS 216 OD, ND OS ND .25 Place VP shunt 20/20 OD, NLP OS 216 OD 4 CF, count fingers; F, female; HM, hand motions; ICP, intracranial pressure; LP, lumbar puncture; M, male; ND, not done; NLP, no light perception; OD, right eye; OS, left eye; OU, both eyes; VP, ventriculoperitoneal. 204 Warden et al: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2011; 31: 202-205 Original Contribution Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. independently by 2 observers, were highly correlated. They detected fluctuations in ICP of 200 mm H2O from one day to the next, but the impact of these findings on clinical management was not described. Gucer and Viernstein (13) inserted an extradural device in 4 IIH patients for up to 10 months and monitored for epochs extending up to a week. They demonstrated wide spontaneous fluctuations in ICP and a sustained reduction following treatment with acet-azolamide or corticosteroids. A drawback of their system was a drift in the baseline pressure and the need for LP calibration. Shunt infection led to removal in 1 case. Spence et al (14) utilized cerebrospinal fluid pressure monitoring via lumbar catheter in 7 of their 9 patients to establish a diagnosis of elevated ICP. The patients had normal ophthalmoscopic examinations, but clinical histories were suspicious for IIH. For ICP monitoring to be valuable in the management of complicated IIH cases, one must prove that it is proce-durally uncomplicated, safe, painless, and more accurate than LP (20). Among the currently available ICP moni-toring devices, intraventricular monitors with external transducers are considered the gold standard as compared to the subarachnoid-subdural-extradural monitors so often used in the past (12-15). The subarachnoid screw or bolt is less accurate than the intraventricular catheter, especially at higher pressures, owing to plugging of the device with brain tissue (2). Gopinath et al (17) demonstrated that a miniature strain-gauge transducer, the one used in the Codman ICP Monitoring System, is highly accurate and stable and that it is a reliable alternative to pressure monitoring through a ventricular catheter. The advantages include small size (1.2 mm) and a flexible cable that allows the transducer to be tunneled in order to minimize infection. 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