Secondary Responses and Insults Increased Intracranial Pressure
If not treated, the brain herniates downward toward the brain stem, causing irreversible brain damage and possible death.
Two types of edema may cause ICP: vasogenic and cytotoxic. A third type (interstitial edema) occurs in the presence of acute brain swelling.
Vasogenic edema - is seen most often as a cause of increased ICP in the adult. Fluid accumulates mostly in the white matter.
Cytotoxic or cellular, edema - may occur as a result of a hypoxic insult, which causes a disturbance in cellular metabolism, the sodium pump, and active ion transport. This results in an abnormal amount of fluid in the brain cells. Cytotoxic edema may lead to vasogenic edema and further increase in ICP.