Question

A young woman sustains a severe head injury as the result of a motor vehicle crash. In the emergency department, her GCS is 6. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg and her heart rate is 80 beats per minute. She is intubated and mechanically ventilated. Her pupils are 3 mm in size and equally reactive to light. There is no other apparent injury. The most important principle to follow in the early management of her head injury is to______________

Answer 1

In the early management of a severe head injury, the focus should be on maintaining cerebral perfusion by controlling blood pressure and heart rate to prevent secondary brain injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most important principle to follow in the early management of a severe head injury is maintaining adequate cerebral perfusion by ensuring a stable blood pressure and heart rate, preventing secondary brain injury. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 6 indicates a severe injury, necessitating meticulous monitoring and control of intracranial pressure (ICP) and careful management of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). Since the patient is already intubated and mechanically ventilated, oxygenation and ventilation are being supported, which is crucial in managing severe head injuries.