Cerebral perfusion pressure optimization for the regulation of brain edema and intracranial pressure

Background: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a pathological condition associated with severe neurological conditions in patients with acute brain injuries. Managing increased ICP based on optimal cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is crucial for improving outcomes. Current Concepts: Cerebral autoregulation, the intrinsic ability to maintain stable cerebral blood flow across a wide range of CPP, is impaired in several brain injuries. CPP, the difference between the mean arterial pressure and the ICP, is a critical factor in maintaining cerebral blood flow. Therefore, optimal CPP is important in managing patients with acute brain injuries. In addition, monitoring cerebral autoregulation and its response to pathological derangements can help diagnose, manage, and predict acute brain injury outcomes. Goal-directed therapy using cerebral autoregulation is beneficial in managing patients with ICP elevation. If blood pressure is excessively low in a patient with elevated intracranial pressure, a treatment to increase blood pressure should be considered as a first step, called optimizing cerebral perfusion pressure. However, if CPP is excessively high in a patient with elevated ICP, a treatment to lower CPP by controlling blood pressure to an appropriate level to prevent worsening of edema due to hyperperfusion should be considered. Discussion and Conclusion: Monitoring cerebral autoregulation to guide optimal management of increased ICP based on optimal CPP may be helpful in goal-directed therapy and improving prognosis among patients with acute brain injuries.