Intracranial pressure monitoring in the 1990s

Monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) has grown beyond that of obtaining of a single pressure value. Critical thinking must be employed by health professionals before the insertion of an ICP monitoring device. Given the wide selection of monitoring devices currently available, consideration must be given to what the goal of monitoring is for an individual patient. Data obtained from an ICP monitoring device can be used to determine cerebral perfusion pressure, cerebral compliance, effectiveness of interventions, and the impact of the patient's environment on cerebral hemodynamics. Emerging trends in computer data collection and analysis may further extend the usefulness of continuous ICP monitoring. Ethical considerations encountered when monitoring ICP must also be considered. This article discusses these issues, as well as the ongoing interpretation and assessment required when caring for a patient with an ICP monitoring device.