intracranial pressure is supposed to be around 15mm Hg. How can an EMT determine what it is in a patient in the field?

Question

The brain trauma textbook says the cerebral perfusion pressure is equal to the mean arterial pressure minus the Intracranial pressure.  While it is possible to calculate the MAP (diastolicx2+systolic/3), how can one know the ICP while in the field?

Answer 1

You can't, as far as I know, and it isn't necessary in pre-hospital care where minutes count. You can infer that intracranial pressure is increased due to the type of trauma and the patient's level of consciousness. Signs and symptoms include confusion, headache and persistent vomiting. Only with intracranial monitoring can ICP be determined in terms of a numerical value, but if head trauma is suspected, based on signs, symptoms and mechanism of injury, intubation with hyperventilation may be ordered to reduce cerebral edema and intracranial pressure.