The head swells. Causes and symptoms of cerebral edema

Brain edema (CBE, cerebral edema) is a pathological condition associated with excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain tissue. Clinically, it manifests itself as a syndrome of increased intracranial pressure. Physicians of different specializations encounter AGM in practice:

neurosurgeons;
neurologists;
neonatologists;
traumatologists;
toxicologists;
oncologists.

Cerebral edema - what is it?

Cerebral edema is not an independent disease, but a clinical syndrome that always develops secondary to any damage to brain tissue.

The main triggering factor in the pathogenesis of the development of AMS is microcirculation disorders. Initially, they are localized in the area of cerebral tissue damage and cause the development of perifocal (limited) edema. In case of severe brain damage and untimely initiation of treatment, microcirculatory disorders become total. This is accompanied by an increase in hydrostatic intravascular pressure and dilation of the blood vessels of the brain, which, in turn, causes blood plasma to leak into the brain tissue. As a result, the development of generalized OGM occurs.

Swelling of cerebral tissues causes an increase in their volume, and since they are located in a confined space of the cranium, it also increases intracranial pressure. Blood vessels are compressed by cerebral tissue, which further enhances microcirculatory disorders and causes oxygen starvation of nerve cells and their mass death.

Causes of cerebral edema

The most common causes of OGM are:

severe traumatic brain injury (basal skull fracture, brain contusion, subdural or intracerebral hematoma;
ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke;
hemorrhage into the ventricles or subarachnoid space;
brain tumors (primary and metastatic);
some infectious and inflammatory diseases (meningitis, encephalitis);
subdural empyema.

Much less frequently, the occurrence of OGM is caused by:

severe systemic allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock, angioedema);
anasarca caused by renal or heart failure;
acute infectious diseases (mumps, measles, influenza, scarlet fever, toxoplasmosis);
endogenous intoxications (liver or kidney failure, severe diabetes mellitus);
acute poisoning with medications or poisons.

In older people who abuse alcohol, there is an increase in the permeability of the vascular walls, which can lead to the development of cerebral edema.

The causes of OGM in newborns are the following factors:

severe gestosis;
umbilical cord entanglement;
intracranial birth injury;
protracted labor.

In rare cases, OGM is observed in completely healthy people. For example, if a person climbs high into the mountains without the necessary stops to acclimatize the body, he may develop cerebral edema, which doctors call mountain edema.

Classification

Depending on the causes and pathological mechanism of development, several types of OGM are distinguished:

	Cause and mechanism of development
Vasogenic	Most common. It occurs as a result of damage to the blood-brain barrier and the release of plasma into the extracellular space of the white matter. Develops around areas of inflammation, tumors, abscesses, trauma, ischemia
Cytotoxic	The main causes are intoxication and ischemia, which cause intracellular hydration. Usually localized in gray matter and distributed diffusely
Osmotic	The cause of its occurrence is a decrease in blood osmolarity due to inadequate hemodialysis, metabolic disorders, drowning, polydipsia, hypervolemia
Interstitial	Occurs in patients with hydrocephalus as a result of leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into the nerve tissue around the ventricles

Symptoms of cerebral edema

The main symptom of AMS is a disturbance of consciousness of varying degrees of severity, ranging from mild stupor to deep coma.

As the swelling increases, the depth of the disturbance of consciousness also increases. At the very beginning of the development of pathology, seizures are possible. Subsequently, muscle atony develops.

During the examination, the patient is diagnosed with meningeal symptoms.

While consciousness is preserved, the patient complains of a severe headache, accompanied by painful nausea and repeated vomiting, which does not bring relief.

Other symptoms of AMS in adults and children are:

hallucinations;
dysarthria;
incoordination of movements;
visual disturbances;
motor restlessness.

With excessive OGM and wedging of the brain stem into the foramen magnum, the patient experiences:

unstable pulse;
severe arterial hypotension;
hyperthermia (increase in body temperature to 40 ° C and above);
paradoxical breathing (alternating shallow and deep breaths, with different time intervals between them).

Diagnostics

It is possible to assume that a patient has AMS based on the following signs:

increasing depression of consciousness;
progressive deterioration of general condition;
presence of meningeal symptoms.

To confirm the diagnosis, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is indicated.

Diagnostic lumbar puncture is performed in exceptional cases and with great caution, as it can provoke dislocation of brain structures and compression of the trunk.

To identify the possible cause of OGM, the following is carried out:

assessment of neurological status;
analysis of CT and MRI data;
clinical and biochemical blood tests;
collection of anamnestic data (if possible).

OHM is a life-threatening condition. Therefore, primary diagnosis should be carried out as quickly as possible and begin from the first minutes of the patient’s admission to the hospital.

In severe cases, diagnostic measures are carried out simultaneously with the provision of first aid.

Treatment of cerebral edema

The founder of the Soviet school of neurosurgery N. N. Burdenko wrote: “He who masters the art of treating and preventing cerebral edema holds the key to the life and death of the patient.”

Patients with AGM are subject to emergency hospitalization in the intensive care unit. Treatment includes the following areas:

Maintaining optimal blood pressure levels. It is desirable that the systolic pressure is not lower than 160 mmHg. Art.
Timely tracheal intubation and transfer of the patient to artificial respiration. The indication for intubation is an increase in the intensity of respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilation is performed in hyperventilation mode, which increases the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood. Hyperoxygenation contributes to the narrowing of cerebral vessels and a decrease in their permeability.
Facilitation of venous outflow. The patient is placed on the bed with the head end elevated, with the cervical spine maximally extended. Improving venous outflow contributes to a gradual decrease in intracranial pressure.
Dehydration therapy. Aimed at removing excess fluid from cerebral tissues. It is carried out by intravenous administration of osmotic diuretics, colloid solutions, loop diuretics. If necessary, to potentiate the diuretic effect of diuretics and supply neurons with nutrients, the doctor may prescribe intravenous administration of a hypertonic glucose solution, 25% magnesium sulfate solution.
Glucocorticoid hormones. Effective in cases of perifocal cerebral edema caused by the development of a tumor process. Ineffective in cases of acute brain injury associated with traumatic brain injury.
Infusion therapy. Aimed at detoxification, elimination of disturbances in water-electrolyte and colloid-osmotic balance.
Antihistamines. They reduce the permeability of vascular walls, prevent the occurrence of allergic reactions, and are also used to relieve them.
Drugs that improve cerebral blood circulation. They improve blood flow in the microvasculature, thereby eliminating ischemia and hypoxia of nervous tissue.
Metabolic regulating agents and nootropics. Improve metabolic processes in damaged neurons.
Symptomatic therapy. Includes the prescription of antiemetics, anticonvulsants, and painkillers.

If AGM is caused by an infectious-inflammatory process, antiviral or antibacterial drugs are included in complex therapy. Surgical treatment is carried out to remove tumors, intracranial hematomas, and areas of brain crushing. For hydrocephalus, shunt surgery is performed. Surgery is usually performed after the patient's condition has stabilized.

Complications

With a significant increase in intracranial pressure, dislocation (displacement) of brain structures and infringement of its trunk in the foramen magnum can be observed. This leads to severe damage to the respiratory, vasomotor and thermoregulatory centers, which can cause death against the background of increasing acute cardiac and respiratory failure and hyperthermia.

Consequences and prognosis

In the initial stage of development, AMS is a reversible condition, but as the pathological process progresses, the death of neurons and the destruction of myelin fibers occur, which leads to irreversible damage to brain structures.

With early initiation of treatment for AMS of toxic origin in young and initially healthy patients, complete restoration of brain functions can be expected. In all other cases, residual effects of varying severity will be noted:

persistent headaches;
absent-mindedness;
forgetfulness;
depression;
sleep disorders;
increased intracranial pressure;
disorders of motor and cognitive functions;
mental disorders.

Prevention

Primary prevention measures for cerebral edema are aimed at preventing the causes underlying its development. These may include:

prevention of industrial, road transport and domestic injuries;
timely detection and active treatment of arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis, which are the main causes of stroke;
timely treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases (encephalitis, meningitis).

If a patient has a pathology against which the development of cerebral edema is possible, then he must undergo preventive treatment aimed at preventing swelling of the brain substance. This may include:

maintaining normal plasma oncotic pressure (intravenous administration of hypertonic solutions, albumin, fresh frozen plasma);
prescription of diuretics for high intracranial pressure;
artificial hypothermia - allows you to reduce the energy needs of brain cells and thereby prevent their mass death;
the use of drugs that improve the tone of cerebral vessels and metabolic processes in brain tissue.

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Content

Cerebral edema is a serious pathological process, which is a severe complication of injuries, a consequence of serious diseases. The brain is located in a tight space, limited by the dense bones of the skull, so any enlargement or compression of it poses a serious danger to human life.

What is cerebral edema

A dangerous, critical condition is characterized by rapid progression: a large amount of fluid fills the perivascular intercellular space and cells, the volume of brain tissue increases, intracranial pressure increases, the vessels are compressed, impairing blood circulation in the brain. Brain edema is the body’s reaction to injury, infection, and excessive stress. Medical care must be urgent, qualified, and as effective as possible. Otherwise, the patient's death quickly occurs.

Based on pathogenetic characteristics, swelling of the brain is classified into the following types:

Vasogenic. Appears within 24 hours after a traumatic brain injury in the area of inflammation, hematomas, ischemic areas, tumors, abscesses, and invasive interventions. This perifocal swelling leads to compression of the brain.
Cytotoxic. Develops as a consequence of ischemia, hypoxia (oxygen starvation), intoxication, disruption of astroglial cellular metabolism, encephalopathy, viruses, stroke, cyanide poisoning, combustion products and hemoglobin breakdown.
Interstitial. It appears due to the penetration of water through the walls of the ventricles into the brain tissue and accumulates around them.
Osmotic. Occurs as a result of metabolic encephalopathies, improper hemodialysis, polydipsia, drowning in a freshwater environment, hypervolemia.
Hydrostatic. Periventricular edema is a consequence of disorders with increased ventricular pressure. More often occurs in newborns.

Classification by development factors:

postoperative – complications after surgery;
toxic – poisoning with toxic substances;
post-traumatic – characterized by edema and swelling of the brain as a result of injury;
inflammatory – a consequence of inflammatory processes;
tumor - widespread swelling with fatal outcome;
ischemic – a consequence of stroke, hemorrhage;
epileptic;
neuroendocrine;
hypertensive.

Classification by size of swelling:

diffuse – location in one of the hemispheres;
local – location in the focus of fluid accumulation;
generalized – damage to both hemispheres.

Causes

Increased blood circulation occurs in the brain, so microcirculation disorders with further development of swelling develop easily. Causes:

Hemorrhage.
Circulatory disorders (ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke).
Malignant tumor of intracranial localization (meningioma, glioblastoma, astrocytoma).
Fractures of the cranial bone, accompanied by damage to brain tissue.
Metastases from cancerous tumors of any organ.
Meningitis, meningoencephalitis.
Intracranial hematoma after trauma.
Fracture of the base of the skull.
Contusion, diffuse axonal damage.
Poisoning and severe intoxication with alcohol, neuroparalytic poisons, chemicals and toxic substances.
Surgical interventions.
Anaphylactic reactions due to allergies.

The causes of this disease are multiple and not only intracranial pathological changes. Complications in the form of swelling may be a consequence of any transformations occurring in the microvasculature of tissues and organs under the influence of external and internal pathogenic factors. Pathology in most cases has fatal consequences.

It is impossible to reliably determine what causes the pathology in a particular case, for what reason there was a transition from localized edema to extensive swelling. The development of the disease is influenced by many factors: gender, age, medical history, size, location, condition. Sometimes even a small injury can lead to fulminant edema, and it happens that extensive destruction of areas of the brain is limited to transient or transient edema.

In newborns

The structural features of the brain and cranial cavity in a newborn child are radically different from those in adults, since in children the body is still developing, and the nervous system of adults undergoes age-related changes. Cerebral edema in newborns is characterized by rapid development, since children have imperfect regulation of vascular tone, cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and unstable intracranial pressure.

However, nature thought out everything perfectly, and the design of the skull of newborns includes a fontanelle (soft bridges made of cartilage tissue). This anatomical feature saves the child from swelling and tissue compression at the slightest cry. The causes of swelling can be:

hypoxia of the child inside the womb of a pregnant woman;
birth trauma or difficult childbirth;
congenital defects of the nervous system;
intrauterine infections;
infection during childbirth with meningitis and meningoencephalitis;
congenital abscesses and cancer.

The periventricular type of swelling can be completely cured, but sometimes the consequences can be:

developmental delay;
epilepsy;
hyperactivity;
paralysis;
dropsy or hydrocephalus;
VSD (dystonia).

Symptoms

Clinically, signs of swelling can be divided into cerebral and focal. Symptoms of cerebral edema, their alternation and combination with each other depend on the root cause of the disease. In this regard, gradual and fulminant forms of swelling are distinguished. In the first case, there is time to prevent the progression of edema, and in the second, all that remains is the fight for life and slowing down the progression of the pathology for some time.

In adults

For this disease, the following groups of symptoms are distinguished:

focal symptoms;
clinic on the background of intracranial hypertension;
stem symptoms.

Symptoms in adults:

Blurred consciousness. It manifests itself in all types of the disease and varies in severity: from stupor to deep coma. With further increase in edema, the depth of the fainting state increases.
Balance is disturbed when walking.
Headache. It happens due to chronic and increasing acute brain diseases.
Decreased vision.
Drop in blood pressure, drowsiness, weakness.
Nausea accompanied by vomiting.
Convulsions, up to loss of consciousness (the patient bites his tongue).
Breathing disorders.

In children

Young mothers are advised to monitor their children very closely in order to promptly notice any deviations in the baby’s behavior. The presence of a pathological condition in a child is indicated by increased intracranial pressure, neurological changes, and dislocation syndrome of brain structures. The main symptoms of cerebral edema in children are complemented by lethargy, weakness, and headache. Paresis and paralysis may appear or intensify, and the optic nerve swells.

As the pathology progresses, convulsions occur, the functions of the cardiovascular system are disrupted, and symptoms increase. The clinical picture is as follows:

intractable hyperthermia;
headache;
excited state;
"brain" scream;
bulging fontanel;
stiff neck;
coma;
sopor;
acute renal failure;
symptoms of occipital and temporoparietal herniation of the brain: strabismus, anisocoria, disturbance of vital functions (dislocation syndrome of brain structures);
oculomotor crisis with gaze fixation and dilated pupils, tachycardia, increased muscle tone, hyperthermia, pressure instability (midbrain compression syndrome);
mydriasis, vomiting, anisocoria, loss of consciousness (trunk compression syndrome);
bradypnea, bradycardia, dysphagia, vomiting, paresthesia (impaired sensitivity) in the shoulder girdle, stiff neck, respiratory arrest (cerebellar entrapment syndrome).

Treatment

The choice of diagnostic methods and further treatment depends on the symptoms of the disease and the preliminary diagnosis. Used:

examination of the cervical region;
computed tomography of the head;
Magnetic resonance imaging;
neurological examination;
blood test to determine the causes and levels of protein in the blood plasma, electrolytes (chlorine, magnesium, sodium, potassium);

If a small swelling can disappear spontaneously in two to four days, then in more complex cases immediate medical intervention is required. Treatment of cerebral edema includes the following methods:

Oxygen therapy - artificial ventilation.
Local hypothermia (the head is covered with ice), lowering body temperature (a now outdated method).
Treatment with drugs that stimulate metabolic processes, glucocorticoids.
Administration of medications intravenously.
Dehydration – taking diuretics in large doses to remove excess fluid.
Ventriculostomy - artificial outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the cerebral ventricles is carried out by inserting a catheter. As a result, intracranial pressure decreases.
An operation to remove the cause of swelling, restore a damaged vessel, eliminate a tumor, extract a bone fragment of the skull to reduce intracranial pressure.

Consequences

What prognosis do doctors make for cerebral edema? The consequence of the pathology is decompensated changes of a general nature that occur in the body, damage to brain tissue that is incompatible with life. This pathology is very unpredictable; it is impossible to make a precise prognosis. The consequences for the patient may be:

The swelling progresses, transforms into swelling of the brain and results in death.
Complete elimination of pathology without negative consequences for the brain.
Removal of edema and subsequent disability of the patient.

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Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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This dangerous, rapidly developing disease can lead to an irreparable, unexpected and dangerous outcome. Swelling of the brain can occur in any person and for many reasons.

For example, with a severe form of toxicosis during pregnancy, hypoxia may develop in the mother and fetus, which can subsequently cause swelling of the child’s brain.

A number of certain factors can cause brain pathology in newborns, namely:

Sustaining a head injury during...
Long difficult labor.
Intrauterine oxygen starvation.
Infections acquired in the womb.
Getting infected during childbirth.
Congenital brain oncology.

You can suspect a pathology in your baby based on the following symptoms:

The child behaves very restlessly.
Strong bursting crying.
Refusal of food.
Sleepy state.
Slowness in movements.
Enlargement of the large fontanel.
Vomit.
Cramps.

In children, cerebral edema develops very quickly. The signs progress and increase, and the baby’s condition worsens. Often the resulting brain injuries cannot be reversed, and the child may die. Therefore, treatment should begin as quickly as possible.

When treating newborns, doctors try not to resort to surgical intervention, because such a procedure can, with a high probability, end in the death of a small patient.

In the treatment of edema in children, drugs are used that remove fluid from the body, inhibit the development of edema, eliminate convulsions and normalize blood supply. In some cases, they resort to artificial reduction of the body.

The consequences of cerebral edema in children are very diverse. Often parents of such children notice developmental delays, impaired motor skills, speech, intellectual and physical abilities. In some cases, children develop epilepsy.

After a long and successful treatment, the child will be registered with a pediatrician and neurologist for a long time. In case of developmental delay or speech delay, the baby is additionally prescribed regular visits to a psychiatrist.

Planning a pregnancy should start with a consultation with a gynecologist. He will determine the presence of possible infections or viruses and prescribe proper treatment. The absence of health problems in the mother is a guarantee of the birth of a healthy baby.

Cerebral edema is a dangerous condition that requires immediate assistance to the injured patient!

The brain is responsible for the functioning of all organs and systems, so disruption of its functioning invariably causes serious problems in the body. Cerebral edema is the human body's response to infection or overuse. This condition develops in a short time and can disappear just as quickly if the necessary measures are taken in time. If the cause of this condition lies in a traumatic injury or serious illness, then getting rid of it is much more difficult.

The essence of the disease

This pathology is nothing more than the body’s reaction to damaging factors. This could be due to an infectious disease, traumatic injury, or overuse.

During the development of edema, the cells and intercellular space of the brain are rapidly filled with a large amount of fluid. This causes an increase in brain volume, which invariably leads to an increase in intracranial pressure.

As a result, blood circulation deteriorates and brain cells die. This pathology often occurs in children.

In children, factors such as:

traumatic brain injuries;

Newborn children may suffer from this pathology due to hypoxia, maternal diseases, toxicosis during pregnancy, and injuries during childbirth.

Types and classification

Depending on the origin, four main types of edema can be distinguished:

Vasogenic edema. This pathology involves a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, which causes the penetration of plasma proteins. It is often observed with brain tumors.
Cytotoxic edema. Its development is caused by disturbances in osmoregulation of cell membranes. Their permeability causes excessive swelling of the white matter. This type of cerebral edema is usually observed with skull injuries.
Ischemic edema. It assumes the action of the listed mechanisms, but they progress in stages. An example would be a cerebral hemorrhage. This swelling most often occurs during or after a stroke.
Interstitial edema. In this situation, the brain tissue becomes saturated with excessive amounts of cerebrospinal fluid. This condition is characteristic of hydrocephalus.

Depending on the factor in the development of edema, the following types of pathology can be distinguished:

postoperative (usually such swelling occurs as a consequence of complications after surgery);
post-traumatic (occurs after injury and is characterized by swelling of the brain);
toxic (this type of cerebral edema can develop, for example, due to alcoholism or poisoning with toxic substances);
tumor (it is not uncommon for the patient to die from this type of edema, because it affects large areas of the brain);
inflammatory (occurs after an inflammatory process);
epileptic (swelling due to epilepsy);
ischemic (usually develops after a stroke or hemorrhage);
hypertensive;
neuroendocrine.

If we talk about the size of brain damage, then swelling can be:

Local – located in the area of the lesion.
Diffuse - localized in one hemisphere.
Generalized – observed in two hemispheres.

The location of the edema determines the following types of pathology:

Brainstem swelling. An extremely dangerous condition that is associated with a disorder of vital functions - breathing, blood circulation, etc.
Edema of cerebral vessels.
Swelling of the brain substance.

Edema that develops as a result of hypoxia, tumors, and inflammation must be differentiated from perifocal edema - it is swelling of the brain in the area of cell destruction. This pathology develops with traumatic injuries.

In accordance with ICD-10, this disease is coded under the code G00-G99 “Diseases of the nervous system”, G90-G99 “Other disorders of the nervous system”, G93.6 “Cerebral edema”.

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Causes of cerebral edema

The development of edema can be caused by illness, infection, traumatic injury, and sometimes even a change in altitude. The most common causes of this pathology are:

Traumatic brain damage. This is mechanical damage to the structure of the skull. It is often complicated due to the fact that the brain is injured by bone fragments. Severe swelling prevents fluid from leaking out of the brain tissue.
. A common pathology associated with abnormalities of cerebral circulation. Brain cells do not receive enough oxygen, and therefore they begin to die, which leads to the development of edema.
Hemorrhagic stroke. Associated with damage to cerebral blood vessels. Hemorrhage causes an increase in intracranial pressure.
Infections:
- subdural abscess;

- toxoplasmosis.
Tumors. During the development of such a formation, compression of an area of the brain occurs, which leads to poor circulation and swelling.
Height difference. There is information according to which an altitude of one and a half kilometers above sea level can cause cerebral edema.

Symptoms and signs

Symptoms increase as intracranial pressure increases.

If the swelling progresses, brain structures may shift and become wedged into the foramen magnum.

Sometimes focal symptoms are observed: paralysis and paresis of the oculomotor nerve, as a result of which dilated pupils are diagnosed.

In the early stages, you may notice the following signs:

, which often have a bursting character.
Loss of orientation in time and space.
Sense of anxiety.
Nausea and vomiting with high-intensity headaches.
Stun.
Drowsiness.
Constriction of the pupils.
Breathing problems.
Increased pressure.
Arrhythmia.

In some cases, vision completely disappears - this occurs if there is compression of the posterior artery of the brain.

Also, as the pathology progresses, coordination of movements is impaired, swallowing disorder occurs, severe vomiting, neck stiffness, cyanosis are observed, and tendon reflexes fade.

Sometimes a person loses consciousness and convulsions may occur. In the most difficult situations, a person falls into a coma.

Diagnostics

CT photo of cerebral edema

To make a correct diagnosis, a set of procedures should be performed:

Analysis of anamnesis. The doctor clarifies complaints and analyzes the reasons that could cause this condition.
Neurological examination. At this stage, the level of consciousness and symptoms that indicate neurological disorders are assessed.
Fundus examination. This condition is characterized by swelling of the optic nerve.
Lumbar puncture. A puncture is performed in the lumbar region to determine the increase in intracranial pressure.
Computer and. With these procedures, signs of edema can be assessed.
Measuring intracranial pressure. For this purpose, a special sensor is inserted into the cavity of the ventricles of the brain.

First aid

If cerebral edema is observed, the patient must be given first aid.

It includes the following activities:

Local hypothermia. To do this, the person's head should be covered with ice packs.
Intravenous administration of 20-40 ml of glucose (40%).
Administration of glucocorticoids - dexamethasone (6-8 ml), prednisolone (30-60 mg).
Administration of Lasix in saline solution – 20-40 ml.
Oxygen inhalation.
Administration of piracetam solution intravenously – 10-20 ml.

After first aid is provided, the person is placed in a neurological hospital. If there has been a skull injury, he is admitted to the neurosurgical department.

In case of toxic cerebral edema, especially in the case of coma, the person is hospitalized in the toxicology or intensive care unit.

It is not possible to relieve cerebral edema on your own, so you must seek medical help.

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Treatment of cerebral edema

There are situations when all signs of illness disappear on their own - this applies to some forms of mountain sickness or mild concussion.

Other cases require immediate medical attention. Only a specialist can decide how to treat cerebral edema, taking into account all the features of the pathology.

Therapy should be aimed at restoring oxygen metabolism in brain cells. This can be achieved through a combination of medicinal and surgical treatment methods. Thanks to such measures, it is possible to relieve cerebral edema and avoid dangerous health consequences:

Oxygen therapy. This procedure involves introducing oxygen into the airways. This is done through the use of an inhaler or other equipment. Thanks to this, the nutrition of the brain improves, which reduces recovery time.
Hypothermia. Involves a decrease in body temperature. Despite the fact that this method perfectly corrects cerebral edema, today it is not used very often.
Intravenous infusion. With this procedure, it is possible to maintain normal blood pressure, blood flow and fight infections.
Ventriculostomy. Helps reduce intracranial pressure. It involves draining excess fluid through a special catheter.
The choice of medications is made depending on the cause that caused the development of edema.

In particularly difficult cases, surgical intervention is prescribed. During decompensated craniectomy, it is possible to remove part of the skull bone, which reduces intracranial pressure.

Also, during the operation, the cause that caused this pathology can be eliminated. If necessary, remove the tumor formation or restore the damaged blood vessel.

Folk remedies can also help with swelling, but they can only be used after consulting a doctor:

White mistletoe decoction. It is used for the development of formation in the brain. To prepare it you need to take 200 grams of milk and 3 grams of dried mistletoe flowers. The dose must be selected by the doctor.
Propolis tincture. For 1 gram of propolis you need to take 10 grams of alcohol. Pour alcohol into the propolis and leave until completely dissolved, then strain. Take a teaspoon before meals. This should be done three times a day.

Consequences and prognosis

The consequences of the development of this pathology depend on the severity of brain damage.

Conditions such as:

Depression.
Absent-mindedness.
Impaired physical activity.
Constant headaches.
Impaired communication abilities.

The course and consequences of the disease are largely influenced by the adequacy and timeliness of treatment. During edema, pressure is observed on brain structures, which can lead to disruption of the heart and respiratory organs.

Lack of oxygen causes brain cell death. As a result, paralysis of the body may occur. In especially severe cases, the person falls into a coma. If vital parts of the brain are affected, then death occurs.

Cerebral edema is a dangerous disorder that, if not properly treated, can cause serious health consequences. Therefore, it is very important to immediately seek help from a doctor - thanks to this you can save not only your health, but also your life.