Intracranial pressure - increased
Key points
- Raised intracranial pressure indicates an increase in the normal brain pressure.
- An increase in your intracranial pressure is a severe medical problem.
- A diagnosis of raised intracranial pressure is made at the patient's bedside.
- The person will be in intensive care and have neurologic and vital signs measured frequently.
Alternative names
ICP; Increased intracranial pressure
Definition
Raised intracranial pressure indicates an increase in the normal brain pressure. This can be due to an increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure. It can also be due to increased pressure within brain matter because of lesions or swelling within the brain matter itself.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
An increase in your intracranial pressure is a severe medical problem. The pressure itself can be responsible for further damage to the central nervous system by causing compression of important brain structures and by restricting blood flow through blood vessels which supply the brain.
Many conditions can increase intracranial pressure. Common causes include:
- severe head injury
- subdural hematoma
- hydrocephalus
- brain tumor
- hypertensive brain hemorrhage
- intraventricular hemorrhage
- meningitis
- encephalitis
- aneurysm rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage
- status epilepticus
- stroke
Symptoms
Infants:
- bulging fontanelle
- separated sutures
- lethargy
- vomiting
Older children and adults:
- vomiting
- headache
- changes in behavior
- progressive decreased consciousness, lethargy
- neurologic deficits
- seizures
Signs and tests
A diagnosis of raised intracranial pressure is made at the patient's bedside. An MRI or CT scan is often used to determine the cause and confirm the diagnosis.
Intracranial pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Intracranial pressure may be measured during a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). It may also be measured directly by a calibrated device. This device is drilled through the skull to measure the pressure on the surface of the brain, or a catheter is inserted to allow it to measure the pressure inside the brain.
Frequently asked questions
What is intracranial pressure?
Raised intracranial pressure indicates an increase in the normal brain pressure. This can be due to an increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure. It can also be due to increased pressure within brain matter because of lesions or swelling within the brain matter itself.
What are the risk factors for intracranial pressure?
An increase in your intracranial pressure is a severe medical problem. The pressure itself can be responsible for further damage to the central nervous system by causing compression of important brain structures and by restricting blood flow through blood vessels which supply the brain. Many conditions can increase intracranial pressure.
What are the symptoms of intracranial pressure?
A diagnosis of raised intracranial pressure is made at the patient's bedside. An MRI or CT scan is often used to determine the cause and confirm the diagnosis. Intracranial pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Intracranial pressure may be measured during a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). It may also be measured directly by a calibrated device. This device is drilled through the skull to measure the pressure on the surface of the brain, or a catheter is inserted to allow it to measure the pressure inside the brain.
How is intracranial pressure treated?
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
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