article · medtigo Journal of Medicine
Monitoring raised intracranial pressure is critical for stroke patient care, but traditional invasive assessment methods pose serious health risks. This clinical study evaluated whether measuring the optic nerve sheath diameter using magnetic resonance imaging could provide a dependable, non-invasive indicator of intracranial pressure. Researchers evaluated 150 adult stroke patients who received brain scans, measuring the nerve sheath three millimetres behind the eye using high-resolution imaging. The resulting measurements showed a strong positive correlation with invasively gathered intracranial pressure data. Although average sheath diameters were slightly higher in male patients than in female patients, overall variation remained minimal across sexes. The findings confirm that magnetic resonance measurement of the optic nerve sheath is an effective and consistent non-invasive assessment technique, presenting a strong case for deeper clinical evaluation.
Elevated pressure inside the skull significantly increases the risk of disability and death for stroke patients. Standard monitoring requires invasive procedures that carry risks of infection and physical injury. Validating a non-invasive imaging method allows clinicians to detect dangerous pressure changes safely, quickly, and reliably, improving general patient monitoring and stroke care outcomes.
This work demonstrates an applied, clinically tested diagnostic technique for hospital radiology departments, neurologists, and intensive care teams managing stroke care. Because it relies on standard high-resolution brain imaging protocols, it could be readily integrated into existing clinical diagnostic workflows or inform software tools designed to automate optic nerve sheath measurements, though the research is currently at an applied clinical validation stage requiring further confirmation before routine integration.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Background: Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is a critical factor contributing to morbidity and mortality in stroke patients, emphasizing the need for timely and accurate monitoring. Conventional methods for measuring ICP are invasive and carry significant risks, underscoring the importance of finding reliable non-invasive alternatives. Purpose: This study investigates the efficacy of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) as a non-invasive indicator of elevated ICP among stroke patients in the Southwestern region of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The research involved 150 stroke patients aged 18 and above who underwent brain MRI scans. High-resolution T2-weighted images were used to measure the ONSD 3 mm behind the globe, and the results were analyzed for correlations with ICP levels. Results: The study found a positive correlation (r = 0.85, p < 0.001) between MRI-measured ONSD and invasively measured ICP. The findings also showed that the mean ONSD was slightly higher in males (5.800 mm) than in females (5.720 mm), with minimal variation, indicating the method’s reliability across genders. The results support using MRI-based ONSD measurement as a dependable non-invasive method for detecting elevated ICP in stroke patients. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ONSD measurement could serve as a valuable clinical tool for ICP monitoring, warranting further research to confirm its potential integration into routine practice.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.63096/medtigo3062317
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
