The cranial vault contains brain tissue, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). After closure of a child’s sutures, the cranial vault is similar to a rigid box. As the volume of the three components within the skull (brain matter, blood and CSF) must remain equal, an increase in one component must be accompanied by a decrease in another component. If there is not, an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) will occur.
ICP can be monitored via a fibre optic monitor (Codman™ microsensor) which is placed on the surface of the brain or in the brain or an external ventricular drain (EVD) system which is a closed sterile system allowing drainage of CSF via a silastic catheter tip which rests in the ventricle.
The ventricular system produces CSF at approximately 20mL/hr (estimated at 0.35mL/min in children) by the choroid plexus in the lateral ventricles. The CSF circulates around the brain and spinal cord and is then reabsorbed via the arachnoid villi.
21 авг 2024
