Posted: September 5th, 2017

Which of the following findings in the patient who has sustained a head injury indicate increasing intracranial pressure (ICP)?

Which of the following findings in the patient who has sustained a head injury indicate increasing intracranial pressure (ICP)?

a) Widened pulse pressure
Additional signs of increasing Intracranial Pressure (ICP) include increasing systolic blood pressure, bradycardia, rapid respirations, and rapid rise in body temperature.
b) Increased pulse
Bradycardia, slowing of the pulse, is an indication of increasing ICP in the head-injured patient.
c) Decreased respirations
Rapid respiration is an indication of increasing ICP in the head-injured patient.
d) Decreased body temperature
A rapid rise in body temperature is regarded as unfavorable because hyperthermia may indicate brain stem damage, a poor prognostic sign.