Invasive Neuromonitoring Modalities in the Pediatric Population

Abstract

Invasive neuromonitoring has become an important part of pediatric neurocritical care, as neuromonitoring devices provide objective data that can guide patient management in real time. New modalities continue to emerge, allowing clinicians to integrate data that reflect different aspects of cerebral function to optimize patient management. Currently, available common invasive neuromonitoring devices that have been studied in the pediatric population include the intracranial pressure monitor, brain tissue oxygenation monitor, jugular venous oximetry, cerebral microdialysis, and thermal diffusion flowmetry. In this review, we describe these neuromonitoring technologies, including their mechanisms of function, indications for use, advantages and disadvantages, and efficacy, in pediatric neurocritical care settings with respect to patient outcomes.

Keywords: Brain tissue oxygenation; Cerebral blood flow; Cerebral microdialysis; External ventricular drain; Intracranial pressure; Invasive neuromonitoring; Multimodality neuromonitoring; Pediatric; Thermal diffusion flowmetry; Traumatic brain injury.