Hydrocephalus pp 248-256 | Cite as

Clinical Significance of ICP Measurement in Infants Part I: Normal Intracranial Pressure

  • Shigetaka Anegawa
  • Takashi Hayashi
  • Ryuichiro Torigoe
Conference paper

Summary

Intracranial pressure (ICP) was monitored in 32 infants with an aplanation transducer while they were either awake or asleep. When they were conscious, the baseline pressure was 85.0 ± 10.3 mmH2O and various types of activity affecting ICP were noted. During non REM sleep, the baseline pressure was 89.3 ± 12.9 mmH2O and no large waves were seen except for fine oscillations recorded at 30 mmH2O above the ICP level. In the REM period, infants older than 2.5 months showed ICP wave forms similar to the A and B waves described by Lundberg. The amplitude of ICP waves from normal infants correlated to their age until they were about 5 months old.

In this paper we present the characteristics of ICP in normal infants. We also discuss the possible mechanisms for the occurrence of pressure waves during the REM period.

Keywords

Intracranial pressure Aplanation principle Normal infant Baseline pressure Pressure wave 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Tokyo 1991

Authors and Affiliations

  • Shigetaka Anegawa
  • Takashi Hayashi
  • Ryuichiro Torigoe
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of NeurosurgeryInstitute of Neurosciences, St. Mary’s HospitalKurume, Fukuoka, 830Japan

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