A young woman with severe head trauma is intubated. What should be avoided in her early management?

In the early management of a patient with severe head trauma, it is crucial to avoid hypotension. Maintaining adequate blood pressure is essential for ensuring sufficient cerebral perfusion. The brain is highly sensitive to changes in blood flow, and any drop in blood pressure can lead to inadequate oxygen delivery, potentially exacerbating secondary brain injury.

When hypotension occurs in the context of severe head injury, it can significantly compromise the patient's clinical outcome. This is because low blood pressure can lead to decreased cerebral perfusion pressure, which is vital for preventing ischemia in an already injured brain. Ensuring hemodynamic stability and avoiding any factors that might contribute to hypotension is, therefore, a priority in immediate trauma care for head injuries.

While the other options—elevated intracranial pressure, hypoxemia, and thermoregulation problems—are also critical concerns in managing head trauma, the specific emphasis in this question is on preventing hypotension as a vital aspect of maintaining cerebral perfusion and overall patient stability.