Cerebral Edema

Overview

Cerebral oedema is a condition when the intracranial pressure increase due to fluid build-up around the brain. It is part of the body's normal response to injury and it can cause severe complications if not treated immediately. This is because cerebral oedema can compromise the blood supply of the brain causing the death of brain tissue due to lack of oxygen. Cerebral oedema by itself can cause many symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, speech difficulty, seizure, vision loss, and loss of consciousness. The cause can be due to traumatic brain injury, ischaemic stroke, brain tumour, infection and brain haemorrhage. The diagnosis can be made upon physical examination, CT scan, and MRI of the brain. The aim of the treatment for cerebral oedema is to treat the underlying cause and relieve the symptoms. Cerebral oedema can sometimes leave severe and irreversible consequences though in some cases it can be treated without much complication.