Intracranial pressure: current status in monitoring and management

One of the most frequently occurring questions in the neurological critical care of children involves the indications for measurement of intracranial pressure (ICP) and the appropriate therapies for abnormally elevated ICP. Advances in monitoring technology have improved the safety and accuracy of ICP measurement. Clinical and basic research into the mechanisms of brain swelling and the efficacy of various therapies, especially in the realm of traumatic brain injury, has allowed the development of rational and specific treatment strategies for elevated ICP. For several diseases, the ability to measure and manage ICP has resulted in marked improvements in outcomes. This article reviews the indications for, and recommended methods of, measuring ICP in children and discusses the status of therapies commonly used to control elevated ICP.