Etomidate and ICP

Q: Etomidate? - select one

A) decreases the intracranial pressure

B) increases the intracranial pressure 

  

Answer: A

  

Etomidate is a useful drug for neurologic patients, particularly those with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), because it tends to decrease Intra-Cranial Pressure (ICP) and to keep Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) unchanged or even improve it.

  

#procedures

#pharmacology

#neurology

#neurosurgery

  

  

References:

  

1. Moss E, Powell D, Gibson RM, McDowall DG. Effect of etomidate on intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure. Br J Anaesth. 1979 Apr;51(4):347-52. doi: 10.1093/bja/51.4.347. PMID: 465257.

  

2. Bramwell KJ, Haizlip J, Pribble C, VanDerHeyden TC, Witte M. The effect of etomidate on intracranial pressure and systemic blood pressure in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2006 Feb;22(2):90-3. doi: 10.1097/01.pec.0000199563.64264.3a. PMID: 16481923.

  

3. Modica PA, Tempelhoff R, Harris LW, Spitznagel EL. Prevention of intracranial hypertension at intubation with preservation of cerebral perfusion pressure during induction: cerebral protective effect of etomidate-induced burst suppression on EEG. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol. 1989 Jun;1(2):132-3. doi: 10.1097/00008506-198906000-00019. PMID: 15815265.