The relationship between intracranial pressure and the degree of brain swelling in patients subjected to infratentorial surgery

摘要

Background. In patients with supratentorial tumours, intracranial pressure is a strong predictor of intra-operative brain swelling and thresholds for ICP associated with brain swelling have been defined. Whether these ICP thresholds can be applied during infratentorial surgery is uncertain. We studied the relationship between subdural ICP and the degree of brain swelling after opening of the dura mater in patients subjected to infratentorial surgery. Thresholds for ICP associated with brain swelling were defined. Methods. One hundred and nine adult patients subjected to infratentorial surgery were studied. Subdural ICP was measured immediately before opening of the dura and the degree of brain swelling was estimated by the neurosurgeon according to a four-point scale.