Arterial and respiratory influences on intracranial pressure in infancy.

Ventricular and subdural pressures have been monitored in 23 infants. Pressure waves which were influenced by respiratory and cardiac activity were noted. These were rather long lasting and were influenced more by respiration than by cardiac activity, when the intracranial pressure is low. Respiration and arterial pressure have similar effects when the intracranial pressure is normal, but when the intracanial pressure is increased the effects of respiratory activity are diminished.