Abstract
This article reviews recent advances in multimodality monitoring of patients following severe head injury during the period of 2004-2005. Whilst intracranial pressure measurement remains the cornerstone of neuromonitoring, analysis of the intracranial pressure waveform provides additional information, which may help guide treatment and predict outcome. Non-invasive detection of intracranial hypertension and assessment of cerebral perfusion pressure and autoregulation is the focus of ongoing research. Although jugular venous saturation monitoring remains a useful method for detecting global hypoperfusion its sensitivity to regional ischaemia is low. Brain tissue oxygen monitoring overcomes this deficiency and sheds new light on the pathophysiology of cerebral ischaemia following brain injury. Further studies are required to define ischaemic thresholds and their association with outcome. Extracellular brain pH has been recently linked to outcome and further studies are required to establish the role of pH regulation. Monitoring of brain metabolism using a cerebral microdialysis continues to develop its niche in clinical neuromonitoring, although it currently remains a research tool. Multimodality neuromonitoring plays an important role in managing patients with severe head injury. It helps guide treatment, provides prognostic information and explores the pathophysiology of evolving brain injury.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
