Learn About Increased Intracranial Pressure
Increased intracranial pressure is a rise in the pressure inside the skull that can result from or cause brain injury.
ICP - raised; Intracranial pressure - raised; Intracranial hypertension; Acute increased intracranial pressure; Sudden increased intracranial pressure; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Increased intracranial pressure can be due to a rise in the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid. This is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. An increase in intracranial pressure can also be due to a rise in pressure within the brain itself. This can be caused by a mass (such as a tumor), bleeding into the brain or fluid around the brain, or swelling of the brain.
An increase in intracranial pressure is a serious and life-threatening medical problem. The pressure can damage the brain or spinal cord by pressing on important structures and by restricting blood flow into the brain.
Many conditions can increase intracranial pressure. Common causes include:
- Aneurysm rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Brain tumor
- Encephalitis (irritation and swelling, or inflammation of the brain)
- Head injury
- Hydrocephalus (increased fluid within the brain)
- Hypertensive brain hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain from high blood pressure)
- Intraventricular hemorrhage (bleeding into the fluid-filled areas, or ventricles, inside the brain)
- Meningitis (infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord)
- Subdural hematoma (bleeding between the covering of the brain and the surface of the brain)
- Epidural hematoma (bleeding between the inside of the skull and the outer covering of the brain)
- Seizure
- Stroke
- Brain injury following a cardiac arrest
- Clots in the veins of the brain (sinus thrombosis)
Infants:
- Drowsiness
- Separated sutures on the skull
- Bulging of the soft spot on top of the head (bulging fontanelle)
- Vomiting
Older children and adults:
- Behavior changes
- Decreased alertness
- Headache
- Lethargy
- Nervous system symptoms, including weakness, numbness, eye movement problems, and double vision
- Seizures
- Vomiting
Sudden increased intracranial pressure is an emergency. The person will be treated in the intensive care unit of the hospital. The health care team will measure and monitor the person's neurological and vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
Treatment may include:
- Breathing support
- Draining of cerebrospinal fluid to lower pressure in the brain
- Medicines to decrease swelling
- Removal of part of the skull, especially in the first 2 days of a stroke that involves brain swelling
If a tumor, hemorrhage, or other problem has caused the increase in intracranial pressure, these problems will be treated.
Weill Medical College Of Cornell
Marc Dinkin is an Ophthalmologist and a Neurologist in New York, New York. Dr. Dinkin and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Increased Intracranial Pressure. His top areas of expertise are Increased Intracranial Pressure, Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome, Papilledema, Stent Placement, and Vitrectomy.
Icahn School Of Medicine At Mount Sinai
Mark Kupersmith is an Ophthalmologist and a Neurologist in New York, New York. Dr. Kupersmith and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Increased Intracranial Pressure. His top areas of expertise are Papilledema, Increased Intracranial Pressure, Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome, Optic Neuritis, and Thymectomy. Dr. Kupersmith is currently accepting new patients.
Neurosurgeons Of New Jersey
Dr. James K. Liu is the Director of Skull Base Institute of New Jersey, with the Neurosurgeons of New Jersey, and the Department of Neurosurgery at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, RWJ Barnabas Health. Dr. Liu is an international leader in skull base surgery, advancing treatments for complex tumors in the brain, skull base, and spinal cord, including pituitary tumors, acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, chordomas, and paragangliomas. His expertise extends to cerebrovascular microsurgery, addressing conditions like brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, moyamoya, and neurovascular compression syndromes (trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm). Dr. Liu utilizes advanced technology and innovative cutting-edge techniques, including minimally invasive endoscopic endonasal surgery (“EEA”), keyhole microneurosurgery, and awake craniotomy with brain mapping, to treat complex tumors and neurovascular diseases. Dr. Liu is an international expert and highly sought-after Visiting Professor, with over 500 invited lectures worldwide. As the creator of the “The Art of Brain Surgery: Masterclass” Youtube series and a prolific author of over 300 published journal articles and 30 textbook chapters, Dr. Liu is dedicated to advancing the field of neurosurgery through education and research. Dr. Liu is actively involved in teaching hands-on cadaver dissection courses in skull base surgery and has delivered lectures worldwide.He is a member of the World Academy of Neurological Surgery, Society of University Neurosurgeons, and founding member of the Yaşargil Microneurosurgery Academy and currently holds the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the International Meningioma Society and is on the Medical Advisory Board for the Acoustic Neuroma Association of New Jersey. Dr. Liu is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Increased Intracranial Pressure. His top areas of expertise are Pituitary Tumor, Meningioma, Glomus Jugulare Tumor, Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Surgery, and Nerve Decompression.
Sudden increased intracranial pressure is a serious and often life-threatening condition. Prompt treatment results in a better outlook.
If the increased pressure pushes on important brain structures and blood vessels, it can lead to serious, permanent problems or even death.
Long-lasting increased intracranial pressure (such as with idiopathic intracranial hypertension) can result in permanent vision loss.
Traumatic brain injury risk can be reduced by wearing appropriate protective headgear for contact sports, while riding a bicycle, and during similar activities. Otherwise, this condition usually cannot be prevented. If you have a persistent headache, blurred vision, changes in your level of alertness, nervous system problems, or seizures, seek medical help right away.
Summary: Hydrocephalus affects up to 2 out of every 500 births and results in long-term disability in up to 78% of those affected. The standard treatment of hydrocephalus is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion via placement of an invasive ventricular shunt to relieve elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). The clinical decision for CSF diversion is based on the ventricular size and clinical symptoms which ar...
Summary: The purpose of this research is to document normal intracranial venous sinus pressures. Participants who need to have a cerebral angiogram to evaluate a medical problem not related to Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) will be invited to participate. Participation in this research will not require any extra visits. The intervention will take place in the interventional radiology suite when...
Published Date: April 29, 2023
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Emergency or life-threatening situations. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination. 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 26.
Beaumont A. Physiology of the cerebrospinal fluid and intracranial pressure. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 69.
O'Reilly G, Cameron P. Neurotrauma. In: Cameron P, Little M, Mitra B, Deasy C, eds. Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 3.2.