[MarySunshine]

Originally Posted by MrChicagoRN

Continuing a course of action only to protect the legal concerns of the hospital & staff is not ethical IMHO.

Yeah, I agree. Have you ever worked in an ICU? I said I do everything I can, within the role of a nurse, to lead the family towards informed decision making so that they end up making the best decision for the patient. I'm sorry but I seriously doubt that you have a solution that is both entirely ethical and entirely safe from litigation. And I also seriously doubt you'd want some renegade nurse deciding what your comatose family member would have wanted!!

[neurogeek]

Hey, what are ICP and CPP?

Thanks.

ICP is intracranial pressure. CPP is cerebral perfusion pressure, or the pressure of blood flow to the brain. You derive CPP by subtracting your ICP from your Map, or MAP - ICP = CPP. Anything < 60 is a worry. So, if your patient has a high ICP (let's say 30) but has a really high MAP (120) then your CPP is 90, which is really good. On the other hand, let's say your patients ICP is 15 but the MAP is 75. Now your CPP is 60, or borderline danger zone. See how your BP greatly affects your brain perfusion. That's why both ICP and MAP play huge factors in your patients ability to perfuse brain tissue.

[all4schwa]

good explanation, neurogeek!

[Suesquatch]

Originally Posted by neurogeek

Hey, what are ICP and CPP?

Thanks.

ICP is intracranial pressure. CPP is cerebral perfusion pressure, or the pressure of blood flow to the brain. You derive CPP by subtracting your ICP from your Map, or MAP - ICP = CPP. Anything < 60 is a worry. So, if your patient has a high ICP (let's say 30) but has a really high MAP (120) then your CPP is 90, which is really good. On the other hand, let's say your patients ICP is 15 but the MAP is 75. Now your CPP is 60, or borderline danger zone. See how your BP greatly affects your brain perfusion. That's why both ICP and MAP play huge factors in your patients ability to perfuse brain tissue.

Thank you, thank you! MAP = mean arterial pressure? How'd'you get that? The systolic/diastolic difference?

[neurogeek]

MAP = 2(DBP) + SBP/3