Question

The vital signs for a client with a possible head injury were, on admission: blood pressure 128/72 mm Hg, pulse 90 beats/min, and respirations 66 breaths/min. Which vital sign assessment conducted four hours later most likely indicates the presence of increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?

A. Blood pressure 172/68 mm Hg, pulse 42 beats/min, respirations 10 breaths/min
B. Blood pressure 160/90 mm Hg, pulse 112 beats/min, respirations 16 breaths/min
C. Blood pressure 130/72 mm Hg, pulse 50 beats/min, respirations 24 breaths/min
D. Blood pressure 100/70 mm Hg, pulse 120 beats/min, respirations 30 breaths/min

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer to the question is option A

Blood pressure 172/68 mm Hg, pulse 42 beats/min, respirations 10 breaths/min

Explanation: Increased intracranial pressure can simply be defined as the increase/rise in the pressure within the brain and the structures sorrounding the brain.

Increased intracranial pressure can be caused by alot of things which includes trauma to the head,bleeding into the brain and it's sorrounding structure,build-up of fluid in the brain, inflammation/swelling of the brain or brain tissues,tumour or mass growing in the brain or its sorrounding structures which can either be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

One of the symptoms of increased intracranial pressure is rise in blood pressure,this rise in blood pressure happens so that the body can compensate for the increased pressure and as well increase the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP),as the pressure continues,there is decrease blood flow to the brain,cushing reflex(the nervous system way of responding to increased ICP) will set in which will reduce the heart rate(bradycardia) and also reduce respiratory rate or make it irregular.

This vital signs in option A is indicative of increased intracranial pressure.

At rest,a healthy human has a normal ICP level of 7-10mmHg