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Fig. 6 | Emergency Cancer Care

Fig. 6

From: Intracranial emergencies in neurosurgical oncology: pathophysiology and clinical management

Fig. 6

Various methods of monitoring ICP. a intraparenchymal fiberoptic catheter, b epidural transducer, c ventriculostomy, d subdural catheter, e subdural bolt. Ventriculostomy offers the ability to monitor ICP as well as drain CSF to achieve temporary relief of intracranial hypertension. An EVD is a small catheter inserted through the skull usually into the lateral ventricle; it is connected to a closed collecting device to allow for CSF drainage. The loop is most often set at 10–20 cm H2O. CSF drains when ICP exceeds drainage resistance. The EVD can also be connected to a transducer that records ICP. Ventricular catheters cannot be placed if cerebral edema has obliterated or significantly compressed the ventricles. In contrast to EVD, subdural and intraparenchymal monitors cannot be used to drain CSF, but can be placed in patients with ventricles of any size

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