Outer skull landmark-based coordinates for measurement of cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure in rabbits

Despite the increased use of intracranial neuromonitoring during experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), coordinates for probe placement in rabbits are lacking. This study evaluates the safety and reliability of using outer skull landmarks to identify locations for placement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intraparenchymal intracranial pressure (ICP) probes. Experimental SAH was performed in 17 rabbits using an extracranial–intracranial shunt model. ICP probes were placed in the frontal lobe and compared to measurements recorded from the olfactory bulb. CBF probes were placed in various locations in the frontal cortex anterior to the coronary suture. Insertion depth, relation to the ventricular system, and ideal placement location were determined by post-mortem examination. ICP recordings at the time of SAH from the frontal lobe did not differ significantly from those obtained from the right olfactory bulb. Ideal coordinates for intraparenchymal CBF probes in the left and right frontal lobe were found to be located 4.6 ± 0.9 and 4.5 ± 1.2 anterior to the bregma, 4.7 ± 0.7 mm and 4.7 ± 0.5 mm parasagittal, and at depths of 4 ± 0.5 mm and 3.9 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. The results demonstrate that the presented coordinates based on skull landmarks allow reliable placement of intraparenchymal ICP and CBF probes in rabbit brains without the use of a stereotactic frame.

► Increased use of neuromonitoring during experimental SAH.
► Coordinates for ICP and CBF probes without us of stereotactic frame on various locations.
► Safe and reproducible recordings of ICP from the olfactory bulb.
► Reliable placement of CBF according to outer skull landmarks alone.