Inconsistency in Reporting Variables Related to Intracranial Pressure Measurement in Scientific Literature

Abstract

Purpose: To assess whether the collection and communication of intracranial pressure (ICP) values were standardized and reproducible.

Methods: Integrative review of clinical trials (n = 357) reporting ICP as a variable.

Results: Only 24.1% of studies reported adequate data required for replication. Of the 357 reports, 342 provided information about the design, 274 discussed sampling strategy, 294 identified the ICP device type, 312 provided a unit of measure, 121 provided anatomical localization for measuring ICP, and 83 provided information about patient positioning.

Conclusions: The majority of literature evaluated did not provide enough data for replication of results. Measuring and reporting ICP in the scientific literature is not standardized. A uniform standard would strengthen the quality of the evidence in neurocritical care and neurosurgical literature and better establish clinical guidelines for ICP management in neurologically injured patients.

Keywords: internal validity; intracranial pressure; measurement; reproducibility; research design.