Which assessment finding suggests that a patients intracranial pressure is increasing?
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What is this article about?According to the Monro-Kellie hypothesis, the three components of the cranial vault (brain matter, cerebrospinal fluid and blood) can be considered to have a fixed total volume; therefore, if one of the three components increases in volume, there is little capacity for the total intracranial volume to increase. This results in raised intracranial pressure, which can have a variety of serious consequences Learning you'll loveAn Ausmed Subscription will unlock access to 1,000+ learning resources. High quality education helps you provide high quality care. ContentsTest Your Knowledge
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Meet the educatorsAusmed Editorial Team Ausmed’s editorial team is committed to providing high-quality, well-researched and reputable education to our users, free of any commercial bias or conflict of interest. All education produced by Ausmed is developed in consultation with healthcare professionals and undergoes a regular rigorous review process to ensure the relevancy of all healthcare information and updates to changes in practice. If you have identified an issue with the education offered by Ausmed or wish to submit feedback to Ausmed's editorial team, please email with your concerns. View Profile Sally Moyle Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Educator Sally Moyle is a rehabilitation nurse educator with Epworth HealthCare. She has completed her masters of nursing (clinical nursing and teaching) and has experience in many nursing sectors including rehabilitation, orthopaedic, neurosurgery, emergency, aged care and general surgery. Sally is passionate about education in nursing in order to produce the best nurses possible. View Profile Here's some further inspirationPractice AreasAusmed PremiumTo access this resource, sign up for Ausmed Premium. With Premium, you’ll have unlimited access to everything you need to take your education and care to the next level. There are so many different subjects on Ausmed! I thought it'd be hard to find the resources I need for complicated procedures or rarer conditions, but they've had everything I've looked for so far. - Jacob, Enrolled Nurse Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP)Not what you're looking for? What is increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?A brain injury or some other health problem can cause growing pressure inside your skull. This dangerous condition is called increased intracranial pressure (ICP). It can lead to a headache. It can also further injure your brain or spinal cord. This kind of headache is an emergency. It requires medical care right away. The sooner you get help, the more likely you are to recover. What causes increased ICP?Causes of increased ICP are:
What are the symptoms of increased ICP?These are the most common symptoms of increased ICP:
These symptoms may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. How is increased ICP diagnosed?
To diagnose increased ICP, your healthcare provider will ask about your past health and do a physical exam. You may also need:
How is increased ICP treated?Increased ICP is an emergency. Treatment might include:
The medical staff may put a pressure monitor (ICP monitor) through a hole in your skull so they can change the amount of medicine if needed. You may also be treated for the underlying cause of your increased ICP, such as an infection, high blood pressure, tumor, or stroke. What are possible complications of increased ICP?Increased ICP has serious complications, such as:
Can increased ICP be prevented?You can lower your risk of certain health problems that may lead to increased ICP, such as:
Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and eating a healthy diet can lower your risk for high blood pressure and stroke. Getting recommended vaccines and washing your hands frequently can lower your risk for infections. You can lower your risk for a head injury by always wearing a helmet when participating in contact sports or riding a bike or motorcycle. Also always wear a seatbelt. When should I call my healthcare provider?Call your healthcare provider or 911 if you think you may be having symptoms of increased ICP, such as:
Key points about increased ICP
Next stepsTips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
Medical Reviewer: Joseph Campellone MD Medical Reviewer: Marianne Fraser MSN RN Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN © 2000-2022 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Not what you're looking for? How do you know if intracranial pressure is increasing?These are the most common symptoms of an ICP:. Headache.. Blurred vision.. Feeling less alert than usual.. Vomiting.. Changes in your behavior.. Weakness or problems with moving or talking.. Lack of energy or sleepiness.. What observations would indicate rising intracranial pressure?Increased ICP can be the result of a brain injury, and it can also cause a brain injury.. headache.. nausea.. vomiting.. increased blood pressure.. decreased mental abilities.. confusion.. double vision.. pupils that don't respond to changes in light.. |