Systems analysis of intracranial pressure. Comparison with volume-pressure test and CSF-pulse amplitude analysis.

Systems analysis is explored as a method of evaluating intracranial pressure (ICP). The intracranial cavity is characterized by a transfer function that is evaluated by the blood pressure pulse acting as the system input and the ICP pulse acting as the output. A comparison is made of the ability of systems analysis, volume-pressure test (VPT), and cerebrospinal fluid-pulse amplitude analysis (CSFPAA) to distinguish between an epidural balloon inflation (EBI) and an intraventricular infusion (IVI) at various steady state levels of ICP. The VPT could not distinguish between EBI and IVI at any level of ICP, and above 30 mm Hg the volume-pressure response decreased. Spectral analysis was able to distinguish EBI from IVI above 30 mm Hg, and CSFPAA was demonstrated to be a simplified spectral analysis. Changes in ICP waveform generated during each cardiac cycle appear to be related to changes in vasomotor reactivity and may have value in the clinical monitoring of ICP.