Management of Intracranial hypertension in Intensive Care Unit: A Literature Review

Abstract

Intracranial hypertension (IH) is a common clinical problem in the intensive care unit (ICU) and critical care unit. IH is the result of increased intracranial pressure. High ICP can cause secondary brain injury and even death. The most common causes of increased ICP are trauma to the brain or skull and stroke. Commonly used barbiturates are pentobarbital and phenobarbital. Another method for decreasing ICP is to paralyze the patient using something like vecuronium. All the patients who are paralyzed MUST be sedated. We can also use paralytics for a patient for aggressive cooling in order to prevent shivering. Sometimes vasopressors are added in order to keep MAP high enough to maintain an adequate CPP.