ICP (Intracranial pressure) wave forms
ICP monitoring waveform has a flow of 3 upstrokes in one wave.
- P1 = (percussion wave) represents arterial pulsation
- P2 = (Tidal wave) represents intracranial compliance
- P3 = (Dicrotic wave) represents aortic valve closure
In normal ICP waveform P1 should have highest upstroke, P2 in between and P3 should show lowest upstroke.
On eyeballing the monitor, if P2 is higher than P1 - it indicates intracranial hypertension.
Extra reading: click to abstract
Monitoring and interpretation of intracranial pressure - Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2004;75:813-821
