Cerebral perfusion pressure--targeted approach in children with central nervous system infections and raised intracranial pressure: is it feasible?

This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of cerebral perfusion pressure-targeted therapy in children with raised intracranial pressure caused by central nervous system infection. A prospective observational pilot study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Twenty children (ages 6 months to 12 years) with a clinical diagnosis of meningitis or meningoencephalitis were included. Intracranial pressure and blood pressure monitoring were initiated soon after enrollment. Interventions to reduce intracranial pressure and elevate blood pressure were used to achieve a target cerebral perfusion pressure of greater than 70 mm Hg in children 2 years of age or older and greater than 60 mm Hg in children less than 2 years. Therapies used to achieve target cerebral perfusion pressure were initial fluid boluses (in 14 patients), vasopressors (in 8), and mannitol (in 10). The target cerebral perfusion pressure was achieved in 6 patients, whereas a cerebral perfusion pressure greater than 50 mm Hg was achieved in 16 patients. All 4 patients with mean cerebral perfusion pressure less than 50 mm Hg died of intractable, raised intracranial pressure. In contrast, only 3 of 16 patients with mean cerebral perfusion pressure more than 50 mm Hg died. In children with raised intracranial pressure caused by central nervous system infection, it was feasible to achieve a cerebral perfusion pressure greater than 50 mm Hg, mainly by increasing the blood pressure within the first 24 hours and by reducing intracranial pressure after the first 24 hours.