Cerebral edema, the causes and consequences of the appearance of which we will consider in this article, is a reaction of the body to excessive loads, injuries and infections. As a rule, this process happens rather quickly. At the same time, the cells themselves and the space between them is filled with excess fluid, and the brain as a result increases in volume, which, in turn, causes an increase in intracranial pressure, worsening of cerebral circulation and entails the death of cells.
This condition, as you understand, requires compulsory and urgent medical care to avoid serious consequences and death.
Causes of edema
The causes that cause cerebral edema may turn out to be different and may be covered, for example, in a violation of cerebral circulation, expressed by ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, in a brain injury, in the presence of an intracranial cancer or metastasis from tumors of any localization.
Inflammatory processes in the brain or its membrane (meningitis or encephalitis), fractures of the cranial vault with damage to the brain substance, as well as common diseases in the form of severe infections, cardiovascular pathologies or extensive burns can also cause cerebral edema.
In addition, even a severe allergic reaction in the stage of anaphylactic shock or drug and alcohol intoxication can provoke the development of this pathology.
What is the main danger of edema?
Edema of any tissues in the human body is a fairly frequent and quite natural phenomenon, which, as a rule, passes without any special consequences. But the brain is in a limited space, in a dense cranial box, which cannot increase its volume under the pressure of its tissues.
Whatever the causes of cerebral edema, they ultimately lead to the compression of its substance in a narrow space. And this circumstance entails the greatest danger: neuron ischemia is aggravated, the progression of edema intensifies, and at some point the functions of the brain are lost.
Cerebral edema in stroke: what causes it
One of the common causes of the aforementioned edema in a patient is a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke suffered by him. Unfortunately, these types of circulatory disorders are almost always accompanied by the described problem, expressed to one degree or another and is a kind of indicator of the severity of the pathological process.
Ischemic stroke is caused by the difficulty of blood flow to certain parts of the brain as a result of blockage of blood vessels for one reason or another, which provokes oxygen starvation, cell death and, as a result, cerebral edema.
And with a hemorrhagic stroke, hemorrhage occurs under the lining of the brain, which becomes the impetus for a rapid increase in intracranial pressure and, accordingly, causes cerebral edema. The causes of this type of stroke are usually the same - high blood pressure, stress, physical effort, causing rupture of blood vessels in the brain or leakage of blood through their walls.
How does the development of edema with a stroke
Initially, edema is caused by a metabolic disorder (metabolism) in the affected area. In medicine, this phenomenon is called cytotoxic edema of the brain, and it is localized mainly in the gray matter. Six hours later, vasogenic edema, already localized in the white matter of the brain, joins the mentioned pathology. It is caused by the process of the so-called sweating of fluid and proteins from small vessels into the extracellular space, caused by a slowdown in blood flow or its stasis (stop).
Simultaneously with these brain edema, necrosis also develops, which leads to the accumulation of osmotically active substances in the intercellular space, which cause an even greater exit of fluid from the capillaries.
Cerebral edema in stroke develops very quickly and spontaneously, while it can be located in the lesion (local edema), in one hemisphere (diffuse edema) and in both hemispheres (generalized edema). It is very important to notice its signs and take measures in time, although, of course, with a stroke it is quite difficult to determine the development of edema, since the patient, as a rule, is in a state of clouded consciousness or in a coma.
Signs of cerebral edema
Regardless of how the causes causing brain edema are classified, its symptoms cannot be called specific and, therefore, it is rather difficult to determine the presence of a dangerous pathology in a patient, focusing only on them.
In medicine, they are divided into three main groups:
- signs associated with increased intracranial pressure;
- signs of focal disorders;
- signs of stem pathology.
As a rule, cerebral edema (the causes, the consequences of which we are considering) is accompanied by severe headache, nausea and the urge to vomit - these symptoms can be attributed to signs of intracranial hypertension.
Disorders of speech, vision, hearing and touch, problems with orientation in space, as well as paresis and paralysis are signs of focal disorders.
When cerebral edema occurs, patients often complain of shortness of breath, they have breathing problems, a feeling of drowsiness, anxiety, blood pressure rises, clouding of consciousness develops, sometimes accompanied by seizures - all these are signs of stem edema that require urgent resuscitation.
Causes of cerebral edema in newborns
Separately, it is worth considering this pathology in newly born children. The causes of cerebral edema that cause them most often lie in the severe course of childbirth in the mother and the birth injury of the baby. But it can also provoke congenital malformations or acquired diseases. Abscesses, tumors, meningitis, encephalitis, intrauterine hypoxia - all this can cause brain edema in infants.
By the way, the course of the described pathology in babies looks somewhat different than in adults, since their body still has very limited ability to maintain vascular tone, regulate intracranial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. The only salvation of the child in this situation is the features of the connection of the bones of the skull, between which he has either soft cartilage tissue, or a gap (fontanelles). By the way, this anatomical feature protects the baby from compression and swelling of the brain, which could end any cry of the baby.
Features of symptoms of cerebral edema in infants
Cerebral edema in newborns is characterized by a fulminant course. At the beginning of the development of pathology, the baby, as a rule, becomes lethargic, sleepy, convulsions may appear in him, consciousness may turn off. In some children, on the contrary, edema causes an excited state, expressed by constant non-stop crying.
The fontanel swells even in a calm state, the volume of the head increases, the baby has vomiting, and the temperature rises.
In newborns with cerebral edema, a characteristic feature of this pathology is a very rapid deterioration in the general condition and, unfortunately, in many cases it ends in death.
Cerebral edema: consequences
The sooner a patient with this diagnosis will be provided with qualified medical care in full, the higher his chances of recovery. But quite often, recovery is only partial - it all depends on the severity of the pathological process.
The consequence is sometimes, for example, the development of epilepsy, caused by a violation of the blood supply to certain parts of the brain. The patient may increase intracranial pressure, leading, in turn, to constant headaches, dizziness, impaired consciousness, and even to a decrease in social communication skills.
In many patients with a diagnosis of cerebral edema, the consequences of the pathology appear in the adhesive process in its ventricles, between the membranes or in the cerebrospinal fluid, which leads not only to periodic headaches, but also to a depressive state and a disorder of neuropsychic activity.
If the swelling was prolonged, then a consequence of it may be a violation of the functions of the brain and a decrease in the mental abilities of a person.
How are the effects of cerebral edema in children
The consequences of the disease in question in children can also be serious and depend on the severity of the disease.
These include the development of cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus, epilepsy, as well as violations of the formation of internal organs.
Cerebral edema in some children can cause problems with speech, as well as coordination of movement. The transferred pathology, unfortunately, causes neuropsychic instability and mental retardation in some patients.
From the foregoing, it is clear that cerebral edema in children is a very serious pathology that requires constant monitoring by a neurologist and pediatrician, and its duration depends on the severity of the consequences of the disease.