Question about ICP

[Student Cheryl]

i am preparing for my neurology examination... having come across to this question. Why increase ICP will cause vomiting? is it because it will press on the vomit control center or what? please help!!!!!

[mistiffy]

Ok, so I think you're on the right track with that-I'm pretty sure it does put pressure on the part of the brain that controls things like vomiting and if you had asked me last week what part of the brain that was I could've told you! lol. But I think it may be more important for you to remember the nursing management of ICP pt's when it comes to ur test. And how u don't want them to vomit because it can cause a severe increase in ICP, also avoid coughing and sneezing, loud noises, etc. Maintain the HOB at 30degrees. And you want these pt's to maintain slightly hypertensive-a systolic between 140-160, but anything over 160 should be tx's with meds because that's when you start seeing a loss of cerebral autoregulation....Ok, does that help at all? Good luck on ur test!!

[Student Cheryl]

:loveya: oh yes. thank you very much.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

You're on the right track. Vomiting associated with IICP is usually due to pressure on the floor of the 4th ventricle (also called the chemoreceptor trigger zone for vomiting). This area can be stimulated directly, or as a result of drugs that cross the B/B barrier - morphine, some digitalis derivitives, etc.

Good Luck!