Intracranial pressure monitors in traumatic brain injury: a systematic review

We conducted a systematic review to examine the relationship between intracranial pressure monitors (ICP) monitors and mortality in traumatic brain injury (TBI). We systematically searched for articles that met the following criteria: (1) adults patients, (2) TBI, (3) use of an ICP monitor, (4) point estimate for mortality with ICP monitoring (5) adjustment for potential confounders. Six observational studies were identified with 11,371 patients. There was marked between-study heterogeneity that precluded a pooled analysis. Patients with ICP monitors had different clinical characteristics and received more ICP targeted therapy in the ICU. Four studies found no significant relationship between ICP monitoring and survival, while the other two studies demonstrated conflicting results. Significant confounding by indication in observational studies limits the examination of isolated TBI interventions. More research should focus on interventions that affect TBI careplan systems. Further research is needed to identify which subset of severe TBI patients may benefit from ICP monitoring.