Clinical experience in the use of the Spiegelberg automated compliance device in the assessment of patients with hydrocephalus.

Deciding upon shunting in patients with hydrocephalus with possibly related symptomatology, is difficult. The Spiegelberg automated device allows continuous measurements of intracranial compliance. We aimed to evaluate the added information that this new technology can provide, in addition to standard continuous ICP monitoring. Thirty-three patients with hydrocephalus were continuously monitored for ICP and compliance. Patients with abnormal ICP or compliance profiles were selected for shunting. Thirteen patients underwent ventriculo-peritoneal shunting on this basis, with 12 obtaining benefit and one dying as a complication of shunt-related sepsis. The 13 patients undergoing shunting had abnormalities in either intracranial pressure or compliance or both. Only 1 patient had normal ICP, but abnormal compliance and so the true complementary role of continuous compliance measurements cannot be determined. It is proposed that further recruitment be on a larger multi-centre basis. Determination of benefit is required, particularly as a possible time lag of abnormal ICP abnormal compliance over appearing during monitoring can be demonstrated.