Elevated Intracranial Pressure

A pathological increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) within the rigid cranial vault (normal adult ICP: ~7-15 mmHg), resulting from increased intracranial volume and potentially causing reduced cerebral perfusion, cerebral ischemia, brain herniation, and neurological deterioration.

Causes

• Increased brain parenchymal volume

  • Cerebral edema/swelling after hypoxic brain injury

  • Brain tumors

  • Central nervous system (CNS) infections

  • Brain abscess

• Increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume

  • Hydrocephalus

  • Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis causing impaired CSF absorption

• Increased intracranial blood volume

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Intracranial hemorrhage

  • Subdural hematoma

  • Epidural hematoma

  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage

  • Hypercapnia causing cerebral vasodilation

• Hypertensive encephalopathy

• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri)