[Epidural intracranial measurement of pressure using conventional pressure transducers. Introduction of a new method]

Today there are no doubts about the great significance of continuous measurement of intracranial pressure in neuromonitoring. Numerous systems of measurement have been evolved and are available. However, they are rather costly because of their minute size that makes them not only expensive to buy but also to maintain on account of their susceptibility to disturbances and their vulnerability. Hence, the author presents as an alternative to the conventional measurement systems a simple measurement method with a low susceptibility to faults and, above all, at a reasonable price. This method works satisfactorily with the conventional pressure sensors that are usually employed in intraarterial blood pressure measurement. In contrast to the normal procedure, however, the sensors are not implanted; the intracranial pressure is transmitted to extracranial via a liquid column and is then led to the measuring element. This method is accurate and permits reliable recording of the cerebral pulse curve or of the mean value for trend analysis.