Raised Intracranial pressure headache

Question 1

What is another name for raised ICP headache?

Answer 1

‘High-pressure headaches

Question 2

What are the possible causes of high pressure headaches?

Answer 2

Idiopathic
or
Secondary to a tumour, venous thrombosis or hydrocephalus

Question 3

What are the main features of raisd ICP headache?

Answer 3

• headache is dull and generalised
• worse lying down, coughing, straining, bending forwards
• vomiting
• papilloedema

Question 4

What makes a high pressure headache worse?

Answer 4

Lying down
Coughing
Straining
Bnding forwards

Question 5

What eye presentation can high pressure headaches cause?

Answer 5

Papilloedema

Question 6

How is the headache described in someome with a high pressure headache?

Answer 6

Dull
Generalised

Question 7

What investigation would you do in someone with a high pressure headache?

Answer 7

Urgent head CT or MRI

Question 8

What is the management of a high pressure headache?

Answer 8

• position patient at 30˚
• treat underlying cause

Question 9

What causes the symptoms of a high pressure headache?

Answer 9

An excess of CSF results in meningeal stretching and the activation of pain-sensitive structures such as the dura