Cerebral edema and raised intracranial pressure - Monitoring and treatmentupdate

Raised intracranial pressure (ICP) is one of the most important complicatio ns of many acute neurological diseases, and success in its treatment has a critical impact on prognosis. New pathophysiological insights and monitorin g procedures have helped implement effective treatment regimens and improve ICP control. Neuromonitoring techniques such as cerebral microdialysis, ce rebral tissue oxygenation monitoring, near infrared spectroscopy and improv ed electrophysiological monitoring promise to gain routine acceptance. Hypo thermia and CPP-targeted ICP treatment are options in addition to standard methods such as osmotherapy, whereas hyperventilation is no longer generall y accepted. This review presents new monitoring techniques in clinical prac tice, and discusses modern ICP treatment strategies and their physiological background.