ABSTRACT
Cerebral failure is relatively common in the ICU and is an important cause of difficulty to wean from controlled ventilation. This type of cerebral failure is usually manifest as coma or confusion, has an unknown aetiology, and often resolves spontaneously. Patients with cerebral failure caused by epilepsy may also require intensive care if they have an unprotected airway or myocardial depression resulting from either convulsions or their treatment. However, after a head injury or intracranial bleed, aggressive management of cerebral failure is essential and the remainder of this section concentrates on this area (see also Chapter 64).
