Treatment of intracranial hypertension and aspects on lumbar dural puncture in severe bacterial meningitis.

Per-Olof Grände, Erling Myhre, Carl-Henrik Nordström, Silvia Schliamser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

337 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Brain stem herniation due to raised intracranial pressure (ICP) is a common cause of mortality in severe bacterial meningitis, but continuous measurements of ICP and the effects of ICP-reducing therapy in these patients have, to our knowledge, not been described. METHODS: During a four-year period, an ICP-monitoring device was implanted in patients admitted to our hospital with severe bacterial meningitis and suspected intracranial hypertension. ICP above 20 mmHg was treated using the Lund Concept, which includes antihypertensive therapy (beta1-antagonist,alpha2-agonist), normalization of the plasma colloid osmotic pressure and the blood volume, and antistress therapy. RESULTS: ICP above 20 mmHg was found in all 12 patients studied. It was effectively reduced in all but two patients, who died. Both patients had a low cerebral perfusion pressure (<10 mmHg), dilated pupils at start of therapy and were beyond recovery. Radiological signs of brain swelling were present in only five patients. Seven patients recovered fully, while mild audiological impairment was observed in two and minor neurological sequelae in one patient. Eight patients showed signs suggesting imminent brain stem herniation before start of ICP-reducing treatment, seven of whom had been subjected to diagnostic lumbar dural puncture shortly before development of the brain stem symptoms. These symptoms gradually regressed after initiation of therapy, and in one patient reversal of brain stem herniation was documented by MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Severe bacterial meningitis can be associated with increased ICP, which can be reduced using the Lund Concept. The high survival rate, the low frequency of sequelae and the reversal of signs of imminent brain stem herniation in these high-risk patients indicated beneficial effects of the intervention. The study confirms earlier observations that lumbar dural puncture is potentially hazardous in patients with intracranial hypertension, because it may trigger brain stem herniation. A normal CT brain scan does not rule out intracranial hypertension.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)264-270
JournalActa Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
Volume46
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Anesthesiology and Intensive Care

Free keywords

  • Brain Stem
  • Adult
  • Adolescence
  • Child
  • Preschool
  • Encephalocele : prevention & control
  • Human
  • Intracranial Hypertension : diagnosis
  • Intracranial Hypertension : etiology
  • Intracranial Pressure
  • Intracranial Hypertension : therapy
  • Meningitis
  • Bacterial : complications
  • Bacterial : diagnosis
  • Pneumococcal : complications
  • Pneumococcal : diagnosis
  • Middle Age
  • Monitoring
  • Physiologic
  • Spinal Puncture : adverse effects
  • Encephalocele : etiology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Treatment of intracranial hypertension and aspects on lumbar dural puncture in severe bacterial meningitis.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this