In patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and decreased alertness or coma, which intervention is described to relieve pressure?

• A. Life support
• B. Draining tube placed to relieve pressure
• C. Methods to protect the airway
• D. Special positioning

Answer: (B)

Relieving intracranial pressure by removing CSF with a ventricular drain is the direct approach described. In subarachnoid hemorrhage, blood in the subarachnoid space can raise ICP and may lead to hydrocephalus. A drain placed into the ventricles allows continuous CSF removal, lowering ICP, reducing brain distortion, and enabling monitoring of intracranial pressure. While life support and airway protection are essential for overall patient stability, they do not specifically reduce intracranial pressure. Positioning can help modestly, but it isn’t a definitive method to relieve high ICP. So, placing a draining tube to relieve pressure is the most direct and effective intervention here.