Preliminary report on the use of optic nerve sheath ultrasound for the diagnosis of intracranial hypertension in patients with cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

Introduction: intracranial hypertension is a serious, life-threatening condition that can occur in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Its diagnosis is made by catheterization of the ventricular system or by non-invasive techniques such as ultrasound of the optic nerve sheath. Objective: to assess the usefulness of ultrasound of the optic nerve sheath for the diagnosis of intracranial hypertension in patients treated with cerebrovascular disease. Method: observational, descriptive and cross-sectional research in 35 patients admitted for cerebrovascular disease in the Internal Medicine and Intensive Medicine services of the “Mártires del 9 de Abril” University Hospital. Ultrasound of the optic nerve sheath, fundus and computerized axial tomography of the skull were performed to diagnose signs of intracranial hypertension. Ultrasound of the optic nerve sheath showed a specificity of 80% and a positive predictive value of 87% for the detection of intracranial hypertension. Results: A predominance of males was reported (71,43 %), and of patients with white skin color (82,86 %). The mean age was 74,5 years, while the mean stay of the patients was 9,7 days. Hypertension was shown as the main personal pathological history (79,99 %) and was associated with the occurrence of cerebrovascular disease (p <0,01). Mortality from this entity was 60 % Conclusions: the measurement of the diameter of the optic nerve sheath by ultrasound in patients with a diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease is useful to evaluate the presence of intracranial hypertension.

Keywords

• ultrasonografía
• nervio óptico
• hipertensión intracraneal
• accidente cerebrovascular
• diagnóstico por imagen