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The causes of brain edema revealed: from trauma to brain tumors, what are the secrets behind it?
Cerebral edema is the excessive accumulation of fluid (i.e., swelling) inside the brain, which often leads to impaired neurological function, increased intracranial pressure, and may eventually compress brain tissue and blood vessels. Symptoms of cerebral edema vary depending on its location and degree, and generally include headache, nausea, vomiting, epilepsy, drowsiness, visual impairment, dizziness, and in severe cases may even lead to death. Brain edema is common in a variety of brain injury conditions, including ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, subdural, epidural, or intracerebral hematoma, increased intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, Brain tumor, brain infection, hyponatremia, high altitude and acute liver failure, etc.
Symptoms of Brain EdemaCerebral edema is a common cause of fatal brain injury and has a significant impact on the mortality rate of ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury.
The degree and extent of symptoms of cerebral edema depend on the specific cause but are usually related to an acute increase in intracranial pressure. Because the cranial cavity is fixed and inelastic, accumulation of cerebral edema compresses vital brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid, consistent with the Munro-Kelly law. Raised intracranial pressure (ICP) is a life-threatening surgical emergency with symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and decreased consciousness. These symptoms are often accompanied by visual disturbances such as gaze paralysis, decreased vision, and vertigo.
Causes of Brain Edema
Cerebral edema often occurs in acute brain injury and has a variety of causes, including but not limited to traumatic brain injury, stroke, tumors, infections (such as brain abscess or meningitis), hepatic encephalopathy, and altitude sickness. Especially in ischemic stroke, approximately 31% of patients will develop malignant cerebral edema within 30 days of onset.
Classification of cerebral edema"Risk factors for brain swelling vary depending on the cause, but age, severity of symptoms, and imaging features of the brain are reliable indicators."
Cerebral edema is usually divided into two major types: cellular edema and vascular edema. This simple classification can guide medical decisions and patient treatment.
Cellular edema
Cellular edema is often associated with the death of brain cells, a condition that causes the cells to swell excessively. For example, in cerebral ischemia, the blood-brain barrier remains intact, but the reduction in blood flow and glucose supply leads to disruption of cellular metabolism and energy sources, further resulting in intracellular sodium retention and further water absorption.
Angioedema
Angioedema is caused by increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, which allows fluid, ions and plasma proteins to enter the brain tissue, causing an increase in brain volume and intracranial pressure, which in turn triggers symptoms of cerebral edema.
Diagnosis and treatment
Because cerebral edema is common in a variety of neurological injuries, determining its specific contribution to a patient's neurologic status can be challenging. Imaging studies (CT scan and MRI) are usually required to initially diagnose brain edema, and monitoring of intracranial pressure is an important diagnostic tool. In addition, therapies for cerebral edema focus primarily on optimizing cerebral perfusion, oxygenation, and venous drainage and reducing intracranial pressure.
Studies have shown that early diagnosis of cerebral edema and prompt intervention can improve clinical outcomes and reduce the risk of death.
Various brain diseases are closely related to cerebral edema. So, with today's medical advances, how can we more effectively prevent and deal with the risks brought by cerebral edema?
