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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2005;76:965-970 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2004.039834
  • Paper

Objective B wave analysis in 55 patients with non-communicating and communicating hydrocephalus

  1. H Stephensen1,
  2. N Andersson2,
  3. A Eklund2,
  4. J Malm3,
  5. M Tisell1,
  6. C Wikkelsö1
  1. 1Hydrocephalus Research Unit, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
  2. 2Department of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden
  3. 3Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Umeå
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Magnus Tisell
 Hydrocephalus Research Unit, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, 413 45 Göteborg, Sweden; magnus.tisellvgregion.se
  • Received 22 February 2004
  • Accepted 10 October 2004
  • Revised 25 September 2004

Abstract

Background: B waves, slow and rhythmic oscillations in intracranial pressure (ICP), are claimed to be one of the best predictors of outcome after surgery for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).

Object: To determine the relation between the percentage of B waves and outcome in patients with hydrocephalus, and also the diurnal variation of B waves.

Methods: ICP and patient behaviour were recorded overnight (17 to 26 hours) in 29 patients with non-communicating hydrocephalus and 26 with NPH. The B wave activity, measured with an amplitude threshold of 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mm Hg, was estimated as the percentage of total monitoring time (% B waves) using a computer algorithm, and correlated with postoperative outcome, defined as changes in 12 standardised symptoms and signs.

Results: There was no linear correlation between improvement after surgery in the 55 patients and total % B waves, but a correlation was found between improvement and % B waves during sleep (r = 0.39, p = 0.04). The percentage of B waves was the same during sleep and wakefulness, and patients with NPH had the same proportion of B waves as the non-communicating patients.

Conclusions: B waves are commonly observed in patients with both communicating and non-communicating hydrocephalus, but are only weakly related to the degree of postsurgical improvement.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none declared

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