Edema, Hydrocephalus, Increased cranial pressure Flashcards
Cytotoxic edema results from…
Swelling of cells due to increased intracellular fluid
Vasogenic edema results from
increased permeability in blood vessels
What two drugs are recommended to treat vasogenic edema?
Steroids (dexamethasone) and mannitol
How does dexamethasone treat edema?
Reduces permeability of tight junctions
How does mannitol treat edema?
Increases solute in blood so that the number of particles in the blood is more than the number of particles in cells or CSF. Osmotic force pulls water across membranes
What medicine is used to treat cytotoxic edema?
none are known as of yet
Noncommunicating hydrocephalus results from…
a block in the ventricular system
Communicating hydrocephalus results from…
a block in the subarachnoid space
Hydrocephalus ex vacuo results from…
brain atrophy and subsequent enlargement of ventricles
What procedures can treat hydrocephalus?
Surgery to remove tumor or lesion, or a shunt to drain fluid
What medications can decrease hydrocephalus?
Acetazolamide and furosemide
How does acetazolemide work?
It inhibits carbonic anhydrase, resulting in decreased CSF production
How does furosemide work?
Inhibits NaKCl2 pump, decreases CSF production
Herniation is fatal because…
the pressure put on the midbrain
