Pediatric traumatic brain injury: correlation of intracranial and arterial pressure signals

Laboratory studies have shown that correlation analysis applied to the intracranial and arterial pressure signals provides a means for detecting loss of vascular tone during massive vasodilation induced by deep hypercapnia (M.L. Daley et al., IEEE Trans. Biomed. Engng., vol. 42, p. 420-4, 1995). In this preliminary clinical study, the same correlation analysis technique was used to evaluate changes of intracranial and arterial pressure in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury. Clinical and laboratory recordings were similar. In three of the four cases studied strong correlations (r>.8) were demonstrated between intracranial and arterial pressure. In two cases, these strong correlations occurred when intracranial pressure was below 20 mm of Hg. The results of this study suggest that extensive cerebral vasodilation can occur during mild increases of intracranial pressure and with high Glasgow scale ratings on admission