Intracranial pressure is the value of the pressure in the head cavity. This pressure can indicate the condition of brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid or cerebrospinal fluid, and cerebral blood vessels. Under certain conditions,Intracranial pressure can increase and cause certain symptoms to watch out for.
Increased intracranial pressure and not treated immediately can lead to serious conditions that can be life-threatening. Increased intracranial pressure can occur not only in adults, but also in infants and children.
Causes of Increased Intracranial Pressure
The most common cause of a person experiencing increased intracranial pressure is a head injury, for example from a blow or blow to the head.
In infants or children, this condition often results from a head injury when they fall out of bed, an accident, or as a result of child abuse. In addition, one of the common causes of increased intracranial pressure in children is congenital abnormalities, such as congenital hydrocephalus.
Increased intracranial pressure can also be caused by increased pressure in the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Increased intracranial pressure can also occur because brain tissue swells from injury or disease.
Conditions or diseases that can cause increased intracranial pressure, including:
- Brain infections, eg meningitis and brain abscess
- stroke
- Tumor or cancer in the brain
- Brain aneurysm
- hydrocephalus
- Hypoxemia or reduced oxygen levels in the blood
- Status epilepticus in epilepsy patients
- Brain bleeding due to high blood pressure
- Swelling or edema of the brain
Recognizing the Symptoms
Increased intracranial blood pressure can be recognized from the following symptoms:
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Double vision
- Increased blood pressure
- Feeling confused, disoriented, restless or a change in behavior occurs
This condition can also cause more severe symptoms, including pupils not responding to changes in light, rapid or shortness of breath, seizures, and loss of consciousness or coma.
In diagnosing increased intracranial pressure, the doctor will usually perform a medical history and physical examination of the patient, including a neurological examination and mental status or psychiatric conditions.
In addition, doctors can also perform supporting examinations, such as CT scans and MRIs, to determine the cause of increased intracranial pressure.
In certain cases, the doctor may perform a cerebrospinal fluid examination through a lumbar puncture. However, this action must be carried out as indicated, because it can affect the condition of the brain and intracranial pressure.
How to Cope With Increased Intracranial Pressure
The main goal of medical treatment for the condition of increased intracranial pressure is to reduce the pressure inside the patient's head until it reaches the expected normal value.
One way that is usually done to reduce the increased intracranial pressure due to blockage or abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid is by inserting an implant. shunt or a special tube into the head through a small hole in the skull.
This procedure is performed by a neurosurgeon and is often performed on patients with hydrocephalus. In addition, doctors can also take several steps to treat increased intracranial pressure, such as:
Hospital treatment
Treatment at the hospital aims to facilitate the installation of breathing apparatus and other medical assistance to help impaired organ function due to increased intracranial pressure.
Administration of drugs
Medications are used to reduce swelling of brain tissue and relieve symptoms that arise from increased intracranial pressure.
The types of drugs that are generally given by doctors include antibiotics, corticosteroids, antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, or fluid medications. To reduce brain swelling, the doctor will usually give medicine mannitol.
Operation
The operation is performed by opening a portion of the skull bone. This action is generally done in an emergency to prevent further brain tissue damage.
Increased intracranial pressure can occur unexpectedly. Therefore, you need to be alert if there are symptoms of increased intracranial pressure due to head injury or other causes.
If you experience the symptoms of increased intracranial pressure mentioned above, you are advised to immediately consult a neurologist for proper examination and treatment.