CONTENTSIntroduction Etiology Sign and symptomsInvestigationTreatmentComplicationsPreventionPrognosis

Introduction Cerebral edema, simply defined as an

increase in brain water content (above the normal brain water content of approximately 80%)

Also known as brain edema, brain swelling

"cerebral" means "Of or relating to the brain

Oedema Meaning and Definition. (n.) A swelling from effusion of watery fluid in

Types

• 1.1 Vasogenic • 1.2 Cytotoxic • 1.3 Osmotic • 1.4 Interstitial

Vasogenic Due to a breakdown of tight

endothelial junctions which make up the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This allows normally excluded intravascular proteins and fluid to penetrate into cerebral parenchymal extracellular space.

Cytotoxic edema is due to the derangement in

cellular metabolism resulting in inadequate functioning of the sodium and potassium pump in the glial cell membrane.

Osmotic Normally cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF)

and extracellular fluid (ECF) osmolality of the brain is slightly lower than that of plasma. When plasma is diluted by excessive water intake (or hyyponatremia), syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH),

Etiology

Tumor Trauma Infectiocerebral abscess Extradural hematoma Subdural hematoma Subarachnoid hemorrhage Cancer Leukemia Metastases SIADH Electrolyte imbalance