ICP MONITOR PLACEMENT STEPWISE EARLY DECOMPRESSIVE CRANIECTOMY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE TBI PATIENTS: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Introduction. Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a secondary event that mostly occurs following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and it correlates with poor outcome of the patients. Several studies have suggested that early decompressive craniectomy (DC; within 48 hours after injury) is recommended for severe TBI patients requiring removal of intracranial hemorrhage and early DC was able to reduce the complications of TBI caused by increased ICP. However, even early DC has been performed, increased ICP may still progress due to massive brain edema. Methods. We herein report a case report of patient admitted with severe TBI and intracranial hemorrhage. The patients were underwent DC and ICP monitor placement after the removal of the intracranial hemorrhage. During postoperative observation in ICU, the CSF of the patients was gradually drained if the ICP was over 15mmHg. Results. The ICP right after performed early DC was 30 cmH2O (22 mmHg). One day after surgery, the hemodynamic of the patient was stable and the GCS was 2X5 with the ICP of the patient was about 18 cmH2O. On day 2-5, patient was hemodynamically stable with improved GCS (3X5) and decreased of ICP (around 13-15 cmH2O). On day 6, the ICP monitor was removed and the patient discharged on day 19 after fully recovered. Conclusion. The placement of ICP monitor and the application of gradual release of CSF after DC might be helpful to reduce increased ICP in severe TBI patients, and thus reducing the morbidity and mortality.
 
 Keywords: Traumatic brain injury, intracranial pressure monitor, decompressive craniectomy