Seventy-five patients with intracranial hypertension whose Glasgow Coma Sco
re (GCS) was 8 or below and in whom intracranial pressure (ICP) was monitor
ed were examined for complications of this procedure. In 20 of the 75 patie
nts we used only an intraparenchymal fiberoptic ICP monitoring transducer,
while, in the remaining 55 patients, who required CSF drainage, a ventricul
ar drainage set (VDS) was used in addition to ICP monitoring. The duration
of monitoring with the ICP transducer alone was approximately 5.1 +/- 2.6 d
as (min. 1, max. 13) and that of ICP monitoring with VDS was 6.2 +/- 3.1 da
ys (min. 1, max. 13). In 8 cases a total of 9 complications were experience
d (12 %). These complications were infection in 3 cases (4 %), epidural hem
atoma in 2 cases (2.7 %): disconnection in 2 cases (2.7 %) and contusion in
2 cases (2.7 %). Although none of the 44 patients who were monitored for l
ess than 5 days experienced infection, 3 of the 31 patients monitored for l
onger than 5 days did experience infection (9.7 %) (p < 0.05). None of the
20 patients who underwent ICP monitoring only experienced infection. Howeve
r, 3 of the 55 patients in whom the ventricular drainage set was implanted
in addition to the transducer for ICP monitoring experienced infection (p <
0.05).
Owing to its minimally invasive nature, low complication rate, and accuracy
in monitoring the parenchyma pressure, the Camino fiberoptic intraparenchy
mal monitor has become the system of choice in our clinic.