What is a primary goal of care for a client with increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?

Maintaining cerebral perfusion is a primary goal of care for a client with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). When ICP rises, there is a risk that it may exceed the arterial blood pressure, leading to inadequate blood flow to the brain. Ensuring sufficient cerebral perfusion is essential to deliver oxygen and nutrients to brain tissues and to remove metabolic wastes.

This goal is crucial because reduced perfusion can lead to brain ischemia, further exacerbating neurological deficits and potentially resulting in long-term damage or death. Effective management of ICP includes strategies to lower pressure, such as positioning, sedation, and, in some cases, surgical interventions, all of which aim to restore or maintain normal perfusion pressure.

While sustaining normal fluid balance, preventing aspiration, and enhancing mobility are all important components of client care, they serve secondary roles in the context of increased ICP. Achieving and preserving adequate cerebral perfusion directly addresses the most critical concern related to the elevated pressure within the cranial cavity.