An intracranial pressure reading that warrants physician notification is what sustained level?

• A. >30 sustained
• B. ">20 sustained"
• C. ">10 sustained"
• D. ">25 sustained"],

Answer: (B)

The key idea is recognizing when intracranial pressure is elevated enough to alert the physician. Normal ICP is roughly 5–15 mmHg; when ICP rises and stays above 20 mmHg, cerebral perfusion can be compromised (CPP = MAP − ICP), increasing the risk of brain ischemia and herniation. Sustained elevations above 20 mmHg are a clinical trigger to notify the physician and begin escalation of care, even before pressures rise to more extreme levels. This threshold reflects a balance between acknowledging a dangerous, persistent change and avoiding overreaction to brief, transient spikes.