Why is elevated icp a problem

It may be due to an increase in the amount of fluid surrounding your brain. For example, there may be an increased amount of the cerebrospinal fluid that naturally cushions your brain or an increase in blood in the brain due to an injury or a ruptured tumor. Increased ICP can also mean that your brain tissue itself is swelling, either from injury or from an illness such as epilepsy. Increased ICP can be the result of a brain injury, and it can also cause a brain injury. Increased ICP is a life-threatening condition.

A person showing symptoms of increased ICP must get emergency medical help right away. These signs could indicate other serious conditions besides increased ICP, such as a stroke , a brain tumor , or a recent head injury.

Increased ICP in infants can be the result of injury, such as falling off a bed, or it can be a sign of child abuse known as shaken baby syndrome , a condition in which a small child has been roughly handled to the point of brain injury.

Symptoms of increased ICP in infants include those for adults, as well as some additional signs unique to babies under 12 months old. Because the bony plates that form the skull are softer in babies than in older children and adults, they may spread apart in an infant with increased ICP. This is called separated sutures of the skull. A blow to the head is the most common cause of increased ICP. Other possible causes of increased ICP include:.

Your doctor will need to know some important information about your medical history right away. They will ask if you recently suffered a blow to the head or if you have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The doctor will then begin a physical exam. They will check your blood pressure and see if your pupils are dilating properly. They may also measure the pressure of your cerebrospinal fluid using a lumbar puncture , or spinal tap.

The most urgent goal of treatment is to reduce the pressure inside your skull. The next goal is to address any underlying conditions. Effective treatments to reduce pressure include draining the fluid through a shunt via a small hole in the skull or through the spinal cord.

The medications mannitol and hypertonic saline can also lower pressure. They work by removing fluids from your body. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. Kelly A-M. Neurology emergencies. Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine. Editorial team. Increased intracranial pressure. 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 around 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.

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. Exams and Tests. 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.

Outlook Prognosis. Alternative Names. Patient Instructions. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt - discharge. Call your healthcare provider or if you think you may be having symptoms of increased ICP, such as:. Increased ICP can result from bleeding in the brain, a tumor, stroke, aneurysm, high blood pressure, or brain infection. Increased ICP has serious complications, including long-term permanent brain damage and death.

Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you. Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are. Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure. If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.

Search Encyclopedia. What causes increased ICP? Causes of increased ICP are: Hydrocephalus, which is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid.

Bleeding into the brain Swelling in the brain Aneurysm Blood pooling in some part of the brain Brain or head injury Brain tumor Infections such as encephalitis or meningitis High blood pressure Stroke.