PATIENTS WITH INCREASED INTRACRANIAL-PRESSURE CANNOT BE MONITORED USING NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

The hypothesis of this study was that with near infrared spectroscopy a decrease of the regional cerebral saturation would be detectable in patients with increased intracranial pressure. For this purpose, two s tudy groups were compared: (A) eight healthy volunteers and (B) eight heart beating organ donors with brain stem herniation. The regional ce rebral saturation was measured according to the developer's suggestion s. Mean arterial pressure and peripheral pulse oximetry were recorded. The statistical comparison, using the unpaired t-test, revealed no si gnificant differences for the regional cerebral saturation (p = 0.97) or for the mean arterial pressure or peripheral pulse oximetry between the groups. In both of the studied situations, no differences in the regional cerebral situation were detectable, even though the patient s ituations were completely antagonistic. Therefore, it is reasonable to discourage the use of the INVOSO(R) 3100 Cerebral Oxymeter to monitor patients with increased intracranial pressure indirectly.