Telemetric sensors for intracranial pressure monitoring in children with CSF shunts: a systematic review and narrative synthesis
- Journal
- Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (Q2)
- Published
- 29 July 2026
- Study design
- Systematic review of cohort studies
- Evidence level
- Level 2, Moderate (CEBM 2a)
- Authors
- Jagraj Thandi, Hannah Redpath, Abdullah Alazzawi, Nithish Jayakumar, Christopher J A Cowie, Ian Coulter
- PMID
- 42521858
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00381-026-07405-7
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Neurosurgery (top studies of the week, 2 August 2026).
Abstract
PURPOSE: Telemetric sensors are optionally inserted for intracranial pressure monitoring in paediatric hydrocephalus management. Children with shunted hydrocephalus may undergo multiple surgeries to investigate shunt function throughout their childhood. Understanding whether telemetric sensor use in the paediatric population improves surgical outcomes and has an economic benefit is vital. METHODS: A systematic review was performed utilising the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles included were from the OVID Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Cochrane Database. Reports from 1st September 2000 to 31st August 2025 for patients under 18 years old with hydrocephalus were included. RESULTS: From 1190 studies identified, 7 were included in the systematic review. A narrative synthesis was feasible, however due to the limited number of heterogeneous articles, a quantitative meta-analysis was not possible. Five overarching themes which support telemetric sensor implementation were identified. These include (i) evidence of technical feasibility and reliability of ICP measurements, (ii) no identified significant safety concerns, (iii) meaningful valve adjustment data, (iv) the benefit of objective ICP readings over symptom-driven ICP management, and (v) evidence that telemetric sensors and appropriate protocols facilitate outpatient management. CONCLUSION: Implementing the use of telemetric sensors in the paediatric population is safe, technically feasible, clinically informative, and potentially valuable in some paediatric patients with shunted hydrocephalus.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.