Nursing Management of a Patient with Increased Intracranial Pressure:A Review

Abstract

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a common manifestation in the patients with neurosurgical disorders. It can lead to potentially catastrophic consequences, including permanent neurological damage and disability. Its prevention and management is of utmost importance in these patients. The current review is to evaluate the various strategies for management of increased ICP. Material for the present study was collected by reviewing various healthcare databases i.e., Cochrane review, Medline, CINHAL, Pub med, Science direct to identify various measures for the management of increased ICP. Approximately 50 articles were reviewed. Effective management of increased ICP involves meticulous avoidance of factors that precipitate or aggravate increased ICP. It has been documented that by elevating head up to 30°, decreasing cerebral edema by using osmotic diuretics and hypertonic saline (HTS), administration of oxygen, reducing cerebral metabolic demands, controlling seizures, maintaining temperature within normal limits, carefully performing respiratory procedures and appropriate nutrition can control the rising ICP. Nursing care of the patient with increased ICP can present many challenges for critical care nurses and hence a thorough knowledge of the dynamics of ICP and the factors associated with its increase is required to prevent progressive damage to brain tissues.

Keywords: Intracranial pressure, Management, Nursing care