Abstract:

Objectives: The diagnosis of raised intracranial pressure is very crucial in critically ill patients. The optic nerve sheath (ONS) is in continuum with the subarachnoid space thus, an increase in ICP will result in a corresponding increase in the optic nerve sheath diameter. Ideally the best method to measure intracranial pressure is invasive intracranial devices but, in many situations, direct ICP monitoring or even imaging of the brain is not possible. In such conditions immediate diagnosis and intervention proves to be lifesaving. Hence optic nerve sheath diameter assessment by ultrasonography (US-ONSD) is emerging to be a quick and reliable tool in detecting raised intracranial tension. This study aims to use bedside optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurements by ultrasonography and its correlation with clinical and radiological evidence of raised intracranial tension and the subsequent changes following medical intervention and lumbar puncture (LP) procedure.            

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