Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Increased Intracranial Pressure Produced by Increased Cerebrospinal Fluid Volume, Intracranial Mass and Cerebral Edema

Abstract

At least 3 different mechanisms may elevate intracranial pressure (ICP): an increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume, the addition of an intracranial mass or an increase in cerebral mass. Clinically elevated ICP is hazardous only when it produces herniation or reduces cerebral blood flow (CBF) but the pressures at which these events occur have not been defined. In an effort to define ICP/CBF relationships, experiments have been performed to study CBF with increased ICP produced by increased CSF volume, an expanding mass, and by producing cerebral edema.

This work was supported by Grants NS 07253-04 and HD-05221 from the National Institutes of Health.