Increased pressure in the skull (raised intracranial pressure)

Description An elevation of the...

Description

An elevation of the pressure in the brain. This can come from expansion of the fluid around the brain (cerebrospinal fluid), from bleeding into the brain, or from a brain tumor or abscess. Causes of raised intracranial pressure include: aneurysm rupture, subarachnoid hemorrhage, brain tumor, encephalitis, hydrocephalus, hypertensive brain hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, meningitis, pseudotumor cerebri, head injury, subdural hematoma, and stroke.

Symptoms

Headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, coma, weakness.

Tests

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Elevated pressure in the brain can cause changes in the back of the eye that can be seen on a magnified eye exam with (exam with an ophthalmoscope.) A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) can detect and measure high pressure. A CT or MRI may show shifting of structures to one side of the brain, and these tests may determine the cause of the raised intracranial pressure.

Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Specialists:
Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery

Treatment

Doctors treat the cause of the brain injury and reduce the intracerebral pressure. Treatment may include: steroid medicines, mannitol, diuretics and seizure medications. A neurosurgeon may place a shunt (drain) into the brain to drain away fluid under pressure. A monitor may be placed through the scalp and scull into the brain to monitor pressure.