Elevated intracranial pressure occurs frequently in patients with seve
re head injury, A number of studies in recent years suggest that indom
ethacin may be useful in the management of elevated intracranial press
ure, Indomethacin acts primarily by reducing cerebral blood flow and d
ecreasing cerebral edema following head injury. This review summarizes
the basic and clinical studies of the effects of indomethacin on cere
bral blood flow, brain edema, and intracranial pressure, The pharmacol
ogy of indomethacin, and issues for future investigation in the use of
indomethacin in severe head injury, are discussed.