Increased Intracerebral Pressure Following Stroke

Abstract

Increased intracerebral pressure with lethal herniation still accounts for high mortality rates in patients with massive strokes. Patients that are likely to develop increased intracranial pressure can often be identified within the first few hours after stroke onset. Although medical management seems to fail in most of these patients, early hemicraniectomy and induced moderate hypothermia (32;C to 33;C) represent two novel therapeutic approaches to improve neurologic outcomes and decrease mortality rates.