Intracranial pressure monitoring involves monitoring the pressure inside the skull in hospital. A neurosurgeon will surgically insert a sensor inside the skull. After the sensor has been inserted, a clinical scientist will come along to the ward to connect the sensor into the Intracranial Pressure (ICP) monitor and show you how to use the equipment.
The ICP monitor records the pressure over a certain number of days. After the recording is complete, the neurosurgeon will remove the sensor from inside the skull and then a clinical scientist will produce a clinical report for the consultant (doctor) in charge of your care. This report is used to help decide the next steps in treatment.
The ICP monitor that we use has a handset that allows you to record your symptoms during your hospital stay and a position sensor that helps us understand how movement effects intracranial pressure. The clinical scientist will discuss the use of this equipment with you.