Reply to: Optimal timing to measure optic nerve sheath diameter as a prognostic predictor in post-cardiac arrest patients treated with targeted temperature management

Sedatives may reduce intracranial pressure (ICP) by several mechanisms as your points.1 First, they reduce cerebral metabolic rate, cerebral blood flow, and cerebral blood volume. Second, sedation reduce agitation which may cause arterial hypertension and increment ICP. Third, sedatives reduce intrathoracic pressure, which can reduce jugular venous outflow and raise ICP.2 Sedation in traumatic brain injury may reduce both systemic and intracranial hypertension, although one concern with sedative administration is a decrease in systemic blood pressure causing a decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure.
Source: Resuscitation - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research