Ultrasonographic Changes of the Optic Nerve-vascular Complex in Intracranial Hypertension caused by Cerebrovascular Disease

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the sonographic changes of the optic nerve-vaina complex in patients with intracranial hypertension caused by cerebrovascular disease.

Methods: A descriptive and longitudinal observational study was performed with 154 orbits of 77 patients with clinical and tomographic diagnosis of intracranial hypertension caused by cerebrovascular disease. All of them underwent an orbital ultrasound at the beginning of the diagnosis, and another one once clinical improvement was achieved, which allowed measuring the diameter of the optic nerve-sheath complex, the width of the meningeal sheath and the height of the papilla.

Results: In all cases the initial diameter of the optic nerve-sheath complex was >5mm, the width of the meningeal sheath >3mm and the height of the papilla >0.8mm, which was more noticeable in those who developed intracranial hypertension caused by hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease. After reaching clinical improvement, a statistically significant decrease in the values of the three ultrasound measurements evaluated was evidenced, regardless of age and type of cerebrovascular disease.

Conclusions: Ultrasound evaluation of the optic nerve-ulnar complex complements the neuromonitoring of patients with intracranial hypertension caused by cerebrovascular disease.