How do doctors know about ICP?

[Collin]

I am curious for some that have said that the surgery is regarded as cosmetic. How do the doctors know IF there is ICP in the child? Do they just guess or is there a test????

Thanks as I am curious!


---Valentine

[mommysbudbud]

CT scan
Eye specialist also..he can check the optic nerves to see if they are swollen
ICP can be dangerous and I hope a doctor would not guess on something so important.

[xl1200c]

Our doctor advised us that they can tell by CT scan and eye test. But they cannot guarantee that ICP would not eventually appear as his skull gets firmer, so that is why they are recommending surgery.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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If we were not to have the surgery, they would want to do periodic eye tests, ct scans, and putting him in the hospital for overnight testing where they put a monitor in his skull. Except for the ct scan, the other tests may not be conclusive anyway, so it certainly all can appear like a "guess". <o:p></o:p>
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We also keep a lookout for changes in his abilities, attitude, and physical health as indicators. <o:p></o:p>

[Jacksmum3]

Our doctor advised us that they can tell by CT scan and eye test. But they cannot guarantee that ICP would not eventually appear as his skull gets firmer, so that is why they are recommending surgery.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
If we were not to have the surgery, they would want to do periodic eye tests, ct scans, and putting him in the hospital for overnight testing where they put a monitor in his skull. Except for the ct scan, the other tests may not be conclusive anyway, so it certainly all can appear like a "guess". <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
We also keep a lookout for changes in his abilities, attitude, and physical health as indicators. <o:p></o:p>
This is a good guide, only I was a bit worried when you said that all the other tests apart from CT scan may not be conclusive. Actually Jack has had ICP monitering once before and is due again On 29th October. This is the only sure fast way for a deffinate pressure or not. They not only put the wire into the scull but it also goes through a vessel in the brain too. This wire is then attatched to a machine which is then attatched to a computer screen. Sorry but you may have been mistaken so thought I would put what I know.
xx

[xl1200c]

Thanks Annmarie. Maybe it is different with our son being metopic? They are worried about pressure in the front, but they said they can't monitor pressure in the front using that particular test, they can only measure in the back - which they said may or may not be a good indicator of what is happening in his front lobes. This certainly may not be the case for all cranio kids. Sorry if I've confused the issue...

[Jacksmum3]

No thats ok Cathy, but Jack has his probe put in the front as if he had pressure it would also be in the front being Bicoronal. They placed the probe in front right in December. See this is the thing about being told one thing and hearing another. I find it some what annoying. This is why we have to be careful about information.
Seems funny how come they do it different. x

[sarahob]

Gavin had an eye test and the doctors concluded that he had no ICP from that and also based on his overall development. We were told that it is unlikely that ICP would be an issue for Gavin and they explained some of the signs of ICP to us.

[Tamz]

when they found out that I had ICP they had done ct and a lot of x-rays and eye tests

[craniomommynbaby]

For Simon, he was definitely having surgery, but they would have done it sooner if he suddenly started getting very irritable or throwing up for no reason.