Intracranial Hypertension is a disease process causing increased cerebrospinal fluid or CSF inside the skull. Patients may experience loss of vision and severe headaches resulting from abnormally high CSF pressure. (NORD, 2015). The essential function of cerebrospinal fluid has long been thought to be a fluid envelope that cushions, protects, and nourishes the brain and spinal cord, and recent data shows that CSF plays an essential role in the homeostasis of the interstitial fluid of the brain and neuronal functioning (Sakka, 2011). The average CSF volume in the body is 150 ml, and CSF is predominately secreted by the choroid plexuses. (Sakka, 2011). The choroid plexuses are frond-shaped bundles of capillaries that are fairly permeable, but
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However, there are several possibilities that have been studied and suggested. Much of the research supports the theory that there is some type of hindrance or obstruction to the flow or absorption of CSF through the existing pathways in the brain (NORD, 2015). A likely mechanism for IH is impaired outflow and absorption of CSF into the venous system. There is little direct evidence of dysfunction of arachnoid villi or arachnoid granulations, which aid in CSF absorption as noted earlier, but abnormalities of arachnoid villi have been documented in many conditions that involve raised intracranial pressure (Walker, 2001). Lastly, another theory for the mechanism of IH is based upon the Monro-Kellie doctrine, which states that ICP within the skull is directly related to the volume of its contents: brain, blood, CSF; it states that any increase in volume of the contents within the skull must be met with a decrease in other cranial contents to stabilize intracranial pressure and restore homeostasis (Smith, 2005). Therefore, this mechanism of Intracranial Hypertension stems from the theory that a disruption of the intracranial equilibrium through either head trauma or some other insult to the cranial contents causes one of the three contents of the skull to be disproportionate, disrupting homeostasis (Smith, 2005). Only very small changes in volume can be tolerated before …show more content…
The most common signs and symptoms directly associated with this CSF disorder of Intracranial Hypertension is an unbearably painful, and at times chronic, headache caused by the dysfunctional absorption of CSF and the subsequent buildup of CSF in the closed system of the skull. The headache can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting if it is not relieved by pain medication. Many people with IH have trouble sleeping because their head pain awakens them (NORD, 2015). The high CSF pressure can also cause the head of the optic nerves to swell due to increased CSF pressure within the nerve sheathes surrounding them, which is called papilledema. Because the optic nerve transmits impulses from the retina to the vision centers in the brain, papilledema can affect eye muscle control, which can produce double vision. However, the most devastating result of papilledema can cause permanent loss of
However, there are several possibilities that have been studied and suggested. Much of the research supports the theory that there is some type of hindrance or obstruction to the flow or absorption of CSF through the existing pathways in the brain (NORD, 2015). A likely mechanism for IH is impaired outflow and absorption of CSF into the venous system. There is little direct evidence of dysfunction of arachnoid villi or arachnoid granulations, which aid in CSF absorption as noted earlier, but abnormalities of arachnoid villi have been documented in many conditions that involve raised intracranial pressure (Walker, 2001). Lastly, another theory for the mechanism of IH is based upon the Monro-Kellie doctrine, which states that ICP within the skull is directly related to the volume of its contents: brain, blood, CSF; it states that any increase in volume of the contents within the skull must be met with a decrease in other cranial contents to stabilize intracranial pressure and restore homeostasis (Smith, 2005). Therefore, this mechanism of Intracranial Hypertension stems from the theory that a disruption of the intracranial equilibrium through either head trauma or some other insult to the cranial contents causes one of the three contents of the skull to be disproportionate, disrupting homeostasis (Smith, 2005). Only very small changes in volume can be tolerated before …show more content…
The most common signs and symptoms directly associated with this CSF disorder of Intracranial Hypertension is an unbearably painful, and at times chronic, headache caused by the dysfunctional absorption of CSF and the subsequent buildup of CSF in the closed system of the skull. The headache can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting if it is not relieved by pain medication. Many people with IH have trouble sleeping because their head pain awakens them (NORD, 2015). The high CSF pressure can also cause the head of the optic nerves to swell due to increased CSF pressure within the nerve sheathes surrounding them, which is called papilledema. Because the optic nerve transmits impulses from the retina to the vision centers in the brain, papilledema can affect eye muscle control, which can produce double vision. However, the most devastating result of papilledema can cause permanent loss of