Method for inserting an intracranial catheter and for monitoring intracranial pressure in a mammal

Abstract

A method for inserting and maintaining an intracranial pressure monitoring catheter within a skull of a patient using a flexible catheter having a stylet insertion aperture formed in the side wall thereof opening to a stylet lumen extending to a closed distal end of the catheter. Two incisions are made in the scalp at a spaced distance apart. A bore hole through the patient's skull is then formed beneath a first of the incisions, and the catheter is inserted underneath the scalp from the second incision and out of the first incision until the stylet insertion aperture is exposed. A stylet is then inserted into the stylet insertion aperture and into the stylet lumen to impart stiffness to a distal portion of the catheter. The stylet-containing portion of the catheter is then inserted through the bore hole and advanced such that a pressure sensing/transmitting component on the distal end of the catheter is located intracranially. The stylet is then removed, and the first scalp incision closed over the catheter. Intracranial pressure can then be monitored via the catheter. The catheter further includes a fluid drainage inlet aperture at the distal end of the catheter, a drainage outlet aperture formed at the proximal end of the catheter body, and a drainage lumen extending between the drainage inlet aperture and the drainage outlet aperture. The method further includes draining cerebrospinal fluid from within the patient's skull via the drainage inlet aperture, drainage lumen, and drainage outlet aperture.