Chapter 7: Moving and positioning
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Related theory
Clinical presentation
Clinical features of raised ICP include:
- headache
- vomiting
- pupillary dysfunction
- reduction in level of consciousness.
As the pressure rises, the risk of brain shift and eventual brain herniation increases, potentially leading to death. Early identification and management of raised ICP is critical to minimize complications and ICP's catastrophic results (Lindsay et al. [61]).
Medical management
Patients with raised ICP are likely to be monitored closely using an ICP bolt within the critical care setting. Depending on the cause of the raised ICP, management may include:
- management of cerebral blood flow or maintenance of cerebral perfusion pressure
- sedation or paralysing agents
- CSF drainage (e.g. extraventricular drainage)
- surgery – excision of haematoma or tumour and decompressive craniectomy (Denehy and Main [28]).
