Increased intracranial pressure
Definition
Increased intracranial pressure is a rise in normal brain pressure.
Alternative Names
ICP; Intracranial pressure - increasedCauses
Increased intracranial pressure can be due to a rise in cerebrospinal fluid pressure. It can also be due to increased pressure within the brain matter caused by lesions (such as a tumor) or swelling within the brain matter itself.
An increase in intracranial pressure is a serious medical problem. The pressure itself can damage the central nervous system by pressing on important brain structures and by restricting blood flow through blood vessels that supply the brain.
Many conditions can increase intracranial pressure. Common causes include:
- Aneurysm rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Brain tumor
- Encephalitis
- Hydrocephalus
- Hypertensive brain hemorrhage
- Intraventricular hemorrhage
- Meningitis
- Severe head injury
- Subdural hematoma
- Status epilepticus
- Stroke
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