Measurement of Temperature in the Brain

Importance of Temperature Measurement

In addition to ICP (intracranial pressure) monitoring, measuring the temperature is an additional parameter carried out to monitor patients who are subject to intensive neurosurgical monitoring.

The temperature in the brain is different from the body’s core temperature. By measuring the temperature, inflammatory processes and dangerous temperature increases in the brain can be detected early on. Moreover, the monitoring of the temperature difference between the temperature in the brain and the body provides additional information about the brain’s intact thermoregulation.

Locations of Temperature Measurements

The temperature function is, next to the ICP (intracranial pressure) integrated in many versions of our RAUMEDIC measuring catheters. The temperature can be measured at different locations in the brain.

For the parenchyma temperature measurement, the measuring catheter NEUROVENT-P-TEMP measures the pressure directly in the brain tissue. In addition to the ICP (intracranial pressure), the temperature is measured in the parenchyma.

There are many different versions of our NEUROVENT-TEMP catheter for measuring the temperature, the ICP (intracranial pressure) and the drainage of the ventricles. Due to the extra drainage function of the ventricular measuring catheter, excess cerebrospinal fluid is drained from the ventricles. Various application tools such as a stylet or guide wire facilitate the implantation.

The epidural catheter NEURODUR-TEMP is placed for measuring purposes directly on the dura. Here again, the temperature and simultaneously the ICP (intracranial pressure) are recorded indirectly via the elastic dura.