Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring

Today, I was reading about non-invasive biomedical sensor devices due to my research, and I found an interesting research area, which is non-invasive Intracranial Pressure Monitoring. For any device, non-invasive is itself a great benefit as it has no side effects that the implanted devices have inside the body, including inflammations, infections and tissue damage. And in the case of Intracranial Pressure Monitoring, it is a very sensitive area of our brain to deal with. Inside the protected shell of our head, the human brain is really a wonder of complexity compared to the most complicated supercomputer. So you can easily guess what will happen when the pressure inside the head goes up? This is a case where intracranial pressure (ICP) tracking comes into consideration for many diseases and evaluating brain status. Neuroscientists and critical care doctors use it all the time to look at and handle cases that could be life-threatening to monitor and study for the well-being of the patient in the medical sector.

Understanding Intracranial Pressure
As we know that our brain swims in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is a clear, protective fluid. This fluid protects the brain from damage, gets rid of waste, and is very important for keeping the body in balance. When this delicate balance is subject to changes, something that causes an abnormal buildup of CSF or blood inside the brain can cause intracranial pressure to rise through the inflammation or abnormal flow of blood in the vessels. A high ICP can be very dangerous for our health. The stiff head makes it hard for the brain to grow, and long-term pressure can squeeze brain cells and blood vessels, reducing oxygen and blood flow. In turn, this can lead to a chain of problems, from headaches and dizziness to coma and even death.

When do you need to monitor ICP?
ICP monitoring might be needed in several scenarios. Here are a few common situations:

• Serious head injury: Swelling can happen after a serious brain injury, like from a car crash or a fall, which can raise ICP. Monitoring lets doctors to keep an eye on the pressure and take necessary steps if needed.
• Brain tumors: Tumors can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or cause inflammation, which can increase ICP.
• Stroke: A stroke stops the flow of blood to the brain, which can cause swelling and a rise in ICP.
• Meningitis is an illness of the meninges, which are the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to swelling and high ICP.
• Brain surgery: Keeping an eye on ICP helps make sure the brain heals properly after some types of brain surgery.

Monitoring processes
As part of the process, there are three different ways to Use ICP Monitoring devices, which are normally a small device put inside the brain to measure pressure directly. There are three main ways that are being used:

• Intraventricular Catheter: This method is well known as to be the most effective. A small hole is made in the head, and a thin, flexible tube called a ‘catheter’ is carefully put into one of the ventricles (fluid-filled spaces) in the brain. The tube is linked to an outside tracking system that shows pressure data in real time. The catheter tube can remove the excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

• Subdural Screw (Bolt): This method is often used when the patient needs to be watched right away. A drill hole is made in the head, and a screw-like device with a pressure monitor is put between the dura mater (the brain's top covering) and the brain tissue. It's less invasive than the intraventricular tube with less functions than the catheter. This method cannot remove the excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

• Epidural Sensor: This method causes the least damage to our brain. One of the sensor is placed between the brain and the dura mater to measure pressure and the monitor outside. It's easy to use, but it's not the most exact and cannot remove the excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Which way is used depends on how quickly the CSF needs to be drained and what risks might be involved with each one of these methods. Most of the time, ICP monitoring is taken place in an intensive care unit (ICU). If you are awake and aware, your doctor will talk to you about the operation and its risks and get your permission for any kind of consequences. After the treatment, you will be given painkillers as needed, but doctors will still need to keep an eye on your brain condition in case it changes.

Findings from the ICP monitoring
Most of the time, ICP values are between 1 and 20 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Anything outside of this range could be a sign of trouble. High ICP means brain cells and blood vessels are under a lot of pressure, which could cause major problems. Your doctor will figure out what your test results mean by looking at your whole medical history and the specifics of your case. Finding and treating high ICP as soon as possible is very important to keep brain damage or even death from happening.

ICP tracking is useful, but it also comes with some risks. Brain extrusion (brain tissue being pushed through a hole in the head) and damage to brain tissue during placement are all possible problems. Here are some more things to think about:

• Accuracy: Each way has its range of problems solving capability with placing and accuracy.
• Controlling illnesses: To stop illnesses, it's important to keep the tracking spot clean and free of germs.
• Comfort for the Patient: ICP monitoring can be painful for patients, and to deal with pain must be carefully done with much care and effort.

New technologies for ICP Monitoring
ICP measurement research keeps getting better with the participation of different fields scients altogether. Researchers are looking into new tools that could make monitoring more accurate, less invasive. The non-invasiveness can solve a lot of underlying risks but can not remove the excessive CSF, so it is necessary to make a balanced system. Here are some areas of growth that look good:

• Wireless ICP Monitors: These devices don't need to be connected to the outside of the head, so they're safer for patients and make them more comfortable.
• Monitoring in Multiple Ways: Using ICP monitoring along with other methods, like brain tissue oxygenation monitors, might give a fuller picture of brain health.
• Telemedicine Integration: ICP monitors could send real-time data so that experts could watch over them from afar, making care more accessible and better coordinated.

In conclusion, Monitoring intracranial pressure is an important part of treating many brain diseases. Even though it's a painful process, finding and treating high ICP early is much more beneficial than the underlying risks. Patients and their loved ones can make the process easier together for the patients.

I hope you learn something new from this blog and if you have any queries please feel free to let me know in the comment.

Thanks a lot for your time and attention. I will catch up with you at the next one.
Wish you a great day!

MD AL MAHADI HASAN Welcome to Mahadi's small corner in the Hive Community from Bangladesh. He is a Ph.D. student who is working at a research Institute in China. He has visited many destinations near Beijing, climbed up the Great Wall and mountains, tried new and exotic dishes here, tried skiing and many other events, and explored his country and wants to explore the rest of the world in the future. As a crypto enthusiast, he has the hobby of learning about Blockchains, Cryptos, and their fascinating applications in the real world. He loves learning new things and tries to enjoy his life to the full. If you like his content, don't forget to upvote and leave a comment to show some love for him as a learner in the blogging sphere. You can also reblog his post if you want to. Also, don't forget to follow him to be updated on his latest posts about his life and thoughts on a regular basis, including daily life and some Blockchain games such as Splinterlands.