Elevated intracranial pressure management

The treatment strategy for increased intracranial pressure (ICP) management includes decisions on head and body position, hypothermia, ventilation, anesthetics, osmotic drugs and surgical procedures. We can treat sudden increases in ICP using osmotic agents, some anesthetics and short episodes of mild hyperventilation. Propofol seems to be suitable for sedation of the increased ICP patients. Surgical decompression of the cranium seems to improve the outcome of the younger patients (below 50 years old), especially children.