Ventricular Fluid Pressure Recordings in Hydrocephalic Patients

Abstract

DIRECT continuous recordings of the effect of isosorbide on ventricular fluid pressure (VFP) of hydrocephalic children have been reported by Hayden et al¹ in 1968. Those studies were conducted on 15 children determined not to be candidates for surgical treatment of their hydrocephalus. During the development and use of the method for that study, extensive physiological recordings of VFP were made. Subsequently, an additional ten patients have been studied. It is the purpose of the present paper to elaborate on the physiological variations observed in the VFP recordings from these 25 hydrocephalic children and to briefly review some of the mechanical factors which influence pressure measurements. Most reports on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure in humans are based on isolated puncture studies with open manometry. In 1960, Lundberg² reviewed previous clinical investigations of intracranial pressure and reported prolonged continuous recordings of VFP in 143 neurosurgical patients. He utilized