For ICP monitoring using an intraventricular catheter, what is the priority nursing intervention to prevent complications?

• A. Aseptic technique to prevent infection
• B. Constant monitoring of ICP waveforms
• C. Removal of CSF to maintain normal ICP
• D. Sampling CSF to determine abnormalities

Answer: (A)

Preventing infection is the main priority with an intraventricular ICP monitor because the catheter provides a direct route into the brain’s ventricles. Aseptic technique during insertion and ongoing care—hand hygiene, sterile gloves and dressings, proper skin prep, and maintaining a sterile closed drainage system—greatly reduces the risk of ventriculitis or meningitis, which can have serious, downstream consequences. Monitoring ICP waveforms and draining or sampling CSF are important parts of management, but they rely on first keeping the system free from contamination. Therefore, strict aseptic technique to prevent infection is the best answer.