Intracranial pressure monitoring following traumatic brain injury: evaluation of indications, complications, and significance of follow-up imaging—an exploratory, retrospective study of consecutive patients at a level I trauma center

According to a recent meta-analysis, the overall incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Europe is about 262/100,000 with considerable heterogeneity between the included studies [1]. While the incidence of traffic-related TBI is decreasing in high-income countries, brain injuries in elderly, caused mainly by falls, increased due to demographic development and higher life expectancy. Comorbidities and anticoagulation therapy frequently complicate management of these patients. Globally, the overall incidence of TBI is increasing primarily due to rising motorized traffic in developing countries [2].

In the context of TBI, the generally recognized Monro–Kellie doctrine and the equation cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) = mean arterial pressure (MAP)—intracranial pressure (ICP), as proposed by Miller et al. [3, 4], has shaped our understanding of cerebral perfusion and its correlation with MAP and ICP. From this insight, the concept of monitoring ICP in TBI patients was deducted. Current guidelines of the Brain Trauma Foundation recommend ICP monitoring for patients with severe TBI (GCS 3–8 after resuscitation) [5]. There are two options for invasive ICP measuring, including intraparenchymal probes and intraventricular catheters. The latter is considered the gold standard as it measures the global ICP, while also providing therapeutic cerebrospinal fluid drainage if necessary [6]. Multimodal monitoring including measurement of intracerebral metabolic parameters and its utility in TBI patients has also been scrutinized in recent studies [7‐9]. Due to a lack of large randomized controlled trials (RCT), there is an ongoing discussion as to whether invasive ICP monitoring can decrease mortality in severe TBI [10‐12]. The only two RCTs we are aware of, include a limited number of patients and do not support the hypothesized lower mortality in ICP-monitored TBI patients [13, 14]. While ICP monitoring is also associated with catheter-related complications, such as focal hemorrhage and local infection in about 6 percent of the interventions [15], it is still considered an essential monitoring tool in sedated patients following severe TBI. The gold standard of imaging in these patients is cranial computer tomography (CCT) which further guides the treatment strategy in these patients. Follow-up CCT in intubated patients is required to monitor potential dynamic changes of intracranial hemorrhage and swelling. In intubated patients, neurological examination cannot be performed, prompting frequent follow-up CCT examinations which require patient transportation and positioning, both potentially increasing ICP [16, 17]. Possible compartmentalization and the possibility of inadequate pressure monitoring often lead to follow-up CCTs also in patients with implanted invasive ICP monitoring. However, there is no report available showing frequency and findings of follow-up CCT in ICP-monitored patients following severe brain trauma. Also, studies evaluating rates and types of complications of invasive ICP monitoring in these patients are scarce. Therefore, the aims of this study were threefold: (1) evaluating the short-term outcome in patients with invasive ICP-measurement following severe TBI, (2) analyze rates and findings of follow-up CCTs and their impact on clinical decision making, and (3) report on complications associated with invasive ICP monitoring in these patients.

Institutional review board approval by the local ethics committee was obtained (approval number 2086/2018). A systematic database search for patients who received an ICP-measuring probe between January 2007 and September 2017 at our urban level I trauma center was conducted. Data acquisition was performed by reviewing electronic health records of each patient. Extracted data included patient gender, age, date of admission, mechanism of trauma, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) on admission, CCT reports, surgery reports including probe implantation, trepanation, craniotomy/craniectomy and potential revisions, as well as length of hospitalization, and comorbidities/additional injuries. Patients were excluded in case of poor documentation or missing medical records. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) was calculated in each case and patients were stratified as non-polytraumatized or polytraumatized at a cut-off for polytraumatized patients of ISS ≥16.

Parenchymal probes distributed by Codman^® and Raumedic^® were used during the observational period. Indications for ICP monitoring were based on findings from the initial CCT (listed in Table 1). Implantation of the probe was performed following intubation in the operating room or in the trauma bay according to manufacturer’s instructions. In cases of cranial decompression surgery implantation of the probe was performed on the contralateral side. Otherwise the side of more pronounced injury was selected for ICP monitoring. Then, patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) and treated according to the local TBI protocol including elevated upper body, maintaining of cerebral perfusion-optimized blood pressure, adequate oxygenation, normocapnia, and minimized handling and positioning of the patient among others. Probe removal was indicated based on individual clinical findings including neurological status, local soft tissue presentation, and CCT findings.

Initial CCT scans as well as the first two follow-up CCT scans were reviewed regarding relevant features indicating TBI (intracranial hemorrhage, fracture, edema, midline-shift), and their spatiotemporal characteristics. As follow-up scans were routinely performed after implantation of the ICP probe, the following (third) CCT scan was considered the first “true” follow-up scan. Indications for these follow-up scans were extracted from clinical records and stratified as “routine follow-up” (without clinical deterioration or elevated ICP), “follow-up due to clinical deterioration” (new onset of anisocoria, cardiovascular decompensation etc.), and “follow-up due to elevated ICP” (> 20 mmHg).

In terms of outcome measures, the physical and neurological constitution of patients was extracted from letters of discharge and then quantified according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) [18]. In case of decease (GOS 1), time and cause of death was recorded.

Invasive ICP monitoring facilitated by the implantation of a ventricular or parenchymal probe is an acknowledged monitoring tool and is recommended by current guidelines in patients with severe TBI [5]. ICP monitoring gives physicians the opportunity to quickly react to changes in a crucial variable of cerebral perfusion. Despite controversial findings regarding a beneficial outcome for patients under ICP monitoring [12], recent literature suggests improved survival [19].

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the management and clinical decision making in patients under ICP monitoring for severe TBI at a level I trauma center. Special attention was paid to the indication of follow-up CCT scans in the context of ICP monitoring.

We found, to our surprise, that nearly three quarters of follow-up CCT scans were routinely performed in the absence of excessive ICP or clinical features of neurological deterioration. The rate of bleeding progression in these cases was 15.6% compared to beyond 50% when ICP abnormalities or clinical deterioration were present. The ratio of progression to progression-free CCT findings was above 6 in CCT scans performed due to elevated ICP compared to routine CCT studies. Now, one could argue that performing 6–7 CCT scans to detect one bleeding progression seems justifiable. However, our data show that bleeding progression had no consequences in terms of clinical interventions in the majority of cases (38/52, 73.1%, Table 5). Surgical intervention based on progression of CCT findings was required in only 3.1% (6/192, Table 4) of all patients who underwent follow-up CCTs. However, this percentage more than tripled when cases with elevated ICP were considered only. Over 11% (5/45) of follow-up CCTs performed due to increased ICP resulted in a surgical intervention. This finding highlights the utility of ICP monitoring in detecting clinically relevant bleeding progression with the potential need for surgical intervention.

As far as routine follow-up CT scans are concerned, frequent patient transport and transfer to CT units might present an underestimated risk to critically ill patients. Studies demonstrated that intrahospital transport (IHT) can significantly increase ICP in TBI patients [16, 20]. Martin et al. reported a 61% rate of adverse events, defined as ventilator asynchrony, hardware failure, and unintended removal of tubes and lines during IHT of TBI patients [17]. Furthermore, they reported that the incidence of secondary insults was significantly higher during transport as compared to an 8 h interval before and after IHT. Cerebral metabolism, however, seems to remain unaffected by IHT, according to another study by Küchler et al. [21]. Considering the severity of injuries and the lack of data from randomized trials, routinely performing CCT scans still seems legitimate in patients with severe TBI. However, attending physicians should question the clinical relevance and implications, as well as therapeutic consequences of follow-up scans with respect to the risks IHT poses. Especially in the absence of elevated ICP and clinical-neurological deterioration, indications of follow-up CCT scans should be considered with care.

Because bleeding progression on CCT scans without ICP elevation is observable in some cases, the validity of ICP measurement is often questioned during clinical routine. ICP used to be considered constant throughout the cranium. However, studies have demonstrated that ICP values can vary according to the type and site of measurement [22, 23]. As the probe is usually placed contralateral to the site of injury in cases of simultaneous craniectomy, compartmentalization could be a relevant effect resulting in misleading ICP values. In case of craniectomy, the static component of ICP is manipulated, so the overall concept of ICP monitoring must be reconsidered. From this point of view, invasive ICP monitoring must be regarded as an additional diagnostic tool and considered in the overall clinical context. Therefore, as ICP values can be erroneous, this might ultimately be used as argument to justify more liberal indication for performing follow-up scans.

In accordance with the literature, the overall complication rate of ICP monitoring in the present study was 5.6% [15]. While severe complications are rare, bleeding and infection are among the most frequently reported complications associated with invasive intracranial pressure monitoring. Intraparenchymal probes have been associated with a < 1% rate of infection, which is significantly lower than in extraventricular drainage systems [24]. The results of the present study support these findings as there was no case of intra-hospital catheter-associated infection. Overall, there were six bleeding-related complications (Table 3), however, three were subgaleal hematomas without clinical consequences and most likely didn’t affect the outcome. In two cases, the medical records were incomplete, so the exact type of bleeding complication could not be evaluated. There was one case of bleeding along the catheter, which has to be considered a definite catheter-associated complication. Taking into account, the two doubtful bleedings, there were overall three catheter-associated bleeding complications. No major complications were observed. Looking at the present data and the available literature, invasive ICP monitoring can be regarded a safe method in patients with severe TBI. This might also contribute to the fact that ICP monitoring has been incorporated in guidelines regarding TBI. Current innovations in ICP monitoring include telemetric systems that allow data transmission via a reader unit placed on the intact skin [25, 26]. Without the need for a physical connection to the intracranial space, this method is supposed to further decrease complication rates and facilitate long term ICP monitoring even outside the hospital. Although most of the studies were performed in settings of elective neurosurgical procedures, the findings seem promising for an increasing implementation in ICP monitoring following TBI [26].

There are several non-invasive alternatives of ICP-monitoring, including near-infrared spectroscopy, electroencephalography, visual-evoked potentials and retina sonography [27]. The latter has been demonstrated to be an effective diagnostic tool when applied in an appropriate patient collective. In their meta-analysis, Ohle et al. [28] included 12 studies on the diagnostic accuracy of retina sonography in detecting elevated ICP. The results illustrate how this method can be useful in ruling out raised ICP in patients with low pretest probability. Considering that in the present study, follow-up CCT scans were frequently performed in the absence of elevated ICP readings, retina sonography might be an alternative to rule out elevated ICP in these patients. The implementation of this low-cost point-of-care tool might therefore reduce the number of unnecessary CCT scans in TBI patients under ICP monitoring.

The results of the present study demonstrated a high number of follow-up CCT performed in severe TBI patients under invasive ICP-monitoring. In particular, there was a high rate (64.3%) of routinely performed scans despite the absence of elevated ICP readings or clinical/neurological deterioration. The data show that the presence of elevated ICP and/or clinical deterioration is associated with a substantially increased odds ratio for aggravated CCT findings as compared to routinely performed scans. Considering the potential harms caused by frequent patient transport in severe TBI and the availability of additional bedside diagnostic tools, the necessity of routinely performed CCT scans should be evaluated thoroughly.

The authors acknowledge that this study has several limitations. First of all, the retrospective design which relied on the evaluation of ICU medical records. The inherent reporting bias included partly inconsistent records regarding indication for CCT and incomplete information about medication (anticoagulation). Furthermore, the severity and detailed morphology of initial CCT scans was not considered in evaluations. Also, the clinical course following the initial follow-up CCT including further imaging results and consecutive potential interventions were not evaluated due to increased heterogeneity of data. The outcome data were limited by the accuracy of the neurological status as described in transfer reports. Lastly, stratification by CCT indication relied upon the consistency of reporting elevated ICP or clinical deterioration within medical records. Also, post-traumatic intracerebral complications (e.g. hydrocephalus) were not available for review in this study.

The present data demonstrate a high number of CCT scans performed in severe TBI patients with invasive ICP monitoring. The proportion of progression of initial CCT findings and subsequent clinical implications on routinely performed scans was overall low. Therefore, indications and potential clinical implications should be carefully evaluated in each case.