Increased Intracranial Pressure: A Case Study

Increased intracranial pressure is an event that is caused by multiple neurologic conditions. Most of time, it usually occurs due to head injury, brain tumor, hemorrhage, and toxic or viral encephalopathies. Increased ICP takes place suddenly, and progresses very fast. As the pressure increase, our body tries to fix the problem by compressing the veins and displacing the cerebral spinal fluid. As the pressure keeps increasing, blood flow to the brain gets affected. There is decrease is oxygen and increase in carbon dioxide and pH also goes down. All these changes leads to edema which causes further increase in pressure. Brain is unable to handle all the pressure and it starts to travel to other area causing herniation. Herniation causes further compression of artery, nerve pathway and fibers. The compression of supply system to brain affect the consciousness, blood pressure, respiration, pulse and temperature. Herniation takes place in the later stage of the ICP. Herniation is indicated by rise in systolic pressure while diastolic pressure does not change. It widens the pulse pressure, bradycardia and respiration are abnormal. Early detection is important to reverse the condition. Some of the …show more content…
For example, if tumor is cause the increase in the ICP, surgery is done to remove the tumor. Proper oxygen supply is provide to the brain which brings the carbon dioxide down to normal level and causes the pH to become alkalotic. Craniotomy, where bone flap is removed and then replaced to relieve sudden rise in ICP. Drainage of ventricles or subdural hematoma are other option for decompression. As for medication, three different type of medications are administered osmotic diuretics, corticosteroids, and anticonvulsants. Diuretics are given to take out water from the brain tissue. Corticosteroids help in dealing head-injuries, and anticonvulsants are given to prevent