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The brain is the basic organ of the central nervous system, thanks to which we can receive, process and generate stimuli. So it is obvious that each of its dysfunctions is a huge threat to human health and life. One such disorder that, if left untreated, is fatal is cerebral edema. It is either an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain tissue due to damage to the blood-brain barrier, or an accumulation of fluid in the brain cells, characterized by cytotoxic edema.
Medicine distinguishes between four types of cerebral edema:
- vascular cerebral edema – its occurrence is associated with dysfunctions of tight connections between vascular endothelial cells, resulting in the penetration of proteins and fluid from blood vessels into the brain tissues;
- cytotoxic swelling of the brain – in this case, the disorders concern the brain cells themselves, when as a consequence of various processes (e.g. injuries or the action of toxins) dysfunction of membrane transporters of various ions occurs, resulting in excessive accumulation of ions (primarily calcium and sodium) within the cells of the system nervous, and this causes the inflow of fluid to them and the appearance of edema;
- osmotic swelling of the brain – this type of edema involves lowering the osmolality of the blood (e.g. when the sodium content is reduced), so that excess fluid may begin to flow from the blood into the cerebrospinal fluid and into the brain tissues themselves,
- interstitial cerebral edema – this is the result of a disturbance in the functioning of the barrier between the cerebrospinal fluid and the soft tissues of the head.
Swelling of the brain after an accident
Common causes of cerebral edema are severe head injuries resulting from hitting a hard surface or falls from significant heights. As a consequence of these events, there is an increase in intracranial pressure. Brain swelling following an accident may accompany other pathologies such as hematomas or areas of brain contusion. It is also possible that it occurs as an independent post-traumatic phenomenon in the brain.
Swelling of the brain after surgery
Any surgical interventions in the brain area are associated with the risk of complications. Sometimes it is necessary to take these risks, for example when surgical removal of a tumor is necessary. Patients often complain of severe headaches and nausea, which can never be taken lightly. These could be signs of brain swelling after surgery. Most often this happens after any tumors are surgically removed, as well as arteries and meningiomas.
Swelling of the brain after a stroke
A stroke is defined as a set of clinical symptoms resulting from a sudden onset of a focal or generalized brain dysfunction resulting from a disturbance in cerebral circulation. Symptoms must persist for more than 24 hours. Post-stroke swelling accompanies almost all strokes, and its extent depends on the degree of brain damage. If the swelling is located at the back of the skull, surgical treatment is usually required.
Swelling of the brain in a child
Most often, injuries, less often tumors or aneurysms, are the causes of cerebral edema in children. If the result of an injury in a child is swelling of the soft tissues of the head, correct diagnosis is often difficult, especially in infants. If the swelling is correctly diagnosed, great care should be taken during treatment and rehabilitation not to lead the child, as this may lead to an increase in the size of the swelling and an increase in intracranial pressure.