Learn About Increased Intracranial Pressure

What is the definition of Increased Intracranial Pressure?

Increased intracranial pressure is a rise in the pressure inside the skull that can result from or cause brain injury.

What are the alternative names for Increased Intracranial Pressure?

ICP - raised; Intracranial pressure - raised; Intracranial hypertension; Acute increased intracranial pressure; Sudden increased intracranial pressure; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension

What are the causes of Increased Intracranial Pressure?

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)
What are the symptoms of Increased Intracranial Pressure?

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
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What are the current treatments for Increased Intracranial Pressure?

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.

Who are the top Increased Intracranial Pressure Local Doctors?

Hudson MSO, LLC

25 Strawberry Hill Court 4th Fl, Suite 7, 
Stamford, CT 
 23.3 mi

Michael Tobias is a Neurosurgery provider in Stamford, Connecticut. Dr. Tobias and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Increased Intracranial Pressure. His top areas of expertise are Increased Intracranial Pressure, Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome, Hydrocephalus, Thrombectomy, and Craniectomy.

Neurology | Ophthalmology
Neurology | Ophthalmology

Optum Medical Care PC

665 Stoneleigh Ave, 
Carmel, NY 
 8.5 mi
Offers Telehealth

Evan Schloss is a Neurologist and an Ophthalmologist in Carmel, New York. Dr. Schloss and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Increased Intracranial Pressure. His top areas of expertise are Strabismus, Optic Neuritis, Esotropia, Neurotoxicity Syndromes, and Thrombectomy.

 
 
 
 
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Optum Medical Care PC

90 S Bedford Rd, 
Mount Kisco, NY 
 10.4 mi

Alexandra Pappas is an Ophthalmologist in Mount Kisco, New York. Dr. Pappas and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Increased Intracranial Pressure. Her top areas of expertise are Increased Intracranial Pressure, Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Retinal Vein Occlusion, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Increased Intracranial Pressure?

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.

How do I prevent Increased Intracranial Pressure?

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.

What are the latest Increased Intracranial Pressure Clinical Trials?
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Treatment Based on Intraventricular Intracranial Pressure Monitoring: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized and Controlled Trial

Summary: ASTIM is a multicenter, prospective, randomised, blinded end-point assessed trial, to investigate the efficacy and safety of treatment based on intracranial pressure monitoring in improving the prognosis of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

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The Effect of BIA Monitoring of Brainedemaontheneurological Prognosis of Supratentorial Massive Intracerebral Hemorrhage - A Randomized, Contrast,Multi-center Trial

Summary: Spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage (SICH) is a hemorrhage caused by the rupture of a blood vessel within the brain parenchyma that is non-traumatic. Its rapid onset and dangerous condition seriously threaten human health; it accounts for about 15% of strokes and 50% of stroke-related mortality. Hunan Province is recognized as one of the high incidence areas of cerebral hemorrhage in the world; accord...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

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.

What are the references for this article ?

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.