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Review
. 2015 Dec;23 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S76-82.
doi: 10.1007/s12028-015-0168-z.

Emergency Neurological Life Support: Intracranial Hypertension and Herniation

Robert D Stevens  1 , Michael Shoykhet  2 , Rhonda Cadena  3
Affiliations
Review

Emergency Neurological Life Support: Intracranial Hypertension and Herniation

Robert D Stevens et al. Neurocrit Care. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

Sustained intracranial hypertension and acute brain herniation are "brain codes," signifying catastrophic neurological events that require immediate recognition and treatment to prevent irreversible injury and death. As in cardiac arrest, a brain code mandates the organized implementation of a stepwise management algorithm. The goal of this emergency neurological life support protocol is to implement an evidence-based, standardized approach to the evaluation and management of patients with intracranial hypertension and/or herniation.

Keywords: Brain edema; Herniation; Hyperventilation; Osmotherapy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
ENLS intracranial hypertension or herniation protocol
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Intracranial compliance is biphasic
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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