Week 2: Acute Neuro Injury Flashcards
What is Intracranial Pressure?
ICP is the pressure excreted by the cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles of the brain.
What state is ICP?
Dynamic state
What is the normal range of ICP?
0-15mmHg
What is the benefit of monitoring ICP?
Indicated to prevent cerebral ischemia and maximise cerebral oxygenation.
Provides early detection of cerebral oedema in sedated patients.
What factors impact ICP under normal circumstances?
- Arterial pressure
- Venous pressure
- Intra-abdominal and intrathoracic pressure (valsalva manouvre)
- Posture (30 deg incline to decrease ICP)
- Temperature
- Blood gases - specifically CO2 (vasodilation/constriction can be caused by alteration in CO2)
What is the Munroe-Kellie doctrine/hypothesis?
Cranial cavity is filled with “3 non-compressible elements: the brain 78%, CSF 10% and blood 12%”
If one increases, the others must decrease.
What is the compensatory processes involved in the Munroe-Kellie hypothesis?
a) Displacement of CSF
b) Compression of the low pressure venous system
c) Decrease the production of CSF
d) Vasoconstriction of cerebral vessels
What is ICP compliance?
It is a measure of the adaptive capacity of the brain to maintain intracranial equilibrium in response to changes?
What factors influence compliance?
- Volume increases
- Time frame for accommodation of volume
- Size on intracranial compartment
Alcohol abuse causes the brain to shrink, meaning they’ll have more space for ICP.
Paediatric’s skull may be a bit more compliant due to the lack of fusion of their fontenelles.
What is the average mL/min of cerebral blood flow through the brain?
750-800mL/min, primarily located in the low pressure venous system.
What is autoregulation?
Is the capacity of the brain to regulate its own CBF to meet the needs of the brain despite the variation in the systemic arterial pressure. I.e. adjusts the diameter of the blood vessels.
Define Cerebral Perfusion Pressure
The BP gradient across the brain.
How is CPP calculated?
MAP - ICP = CPP
What is the normal CPP range?
70-100mmHg
What is the minimum range of CPP required for adequate cerebral perfusion?
50-60mmHg
What is associated with CPP <50mmHg?
Ischaemia and neuronal death
What is the result of CPP <30mmHg?
Cellular ischaemia and is incompatible with life
What is the normal range for MAP?
60-150mmHg
what is the ideal range for MAP?
70-90mmHg
T/F
Autoregulation operates within limited parameters
True
T/F
Patients with a high MAP are more likely to be hypertensive
False
T/F
If autoregulation fails then CBF and Cerebral Blood Volume becomes massively dependent on changes in systemic BP
True
What are some Signs and Symptoms of raised ICP?
- Decreased LOC
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Pupillary abnormalities
- Visual disturbances
- Motor dysfunction
- Speech disturbances
- Changes in vital signs
Cushings triad is late stage
What is the incidence of an acquired brain injury?
1 in 50
How many with an acquired brain injury have a severe disability?
47%
What is the biomechanics of a traumatic brain injury?
Traumatically induced structural injury or physiological disruption of brain function as a result of an external force.
What is involved/occurs with a TBI?
- Loss/decreased or ALOC
- Amnesia
- Neurological deficit
- Intracranial deficit
- Severe TBI defined as GCS <8
- Penetrating or closed
- Damage related to MOI, type and location
What age group is more at risk of a TBI?
15-44 year olds
What is a primary head injury?
Moment of impact
What is a secondary head injury?
Evolves hours/days later
What is commonly involved with secondary head injuries?
- Cerebral oedema
- Hypoxia
- Hypotension
- Hypercapnia
- Hyperthermia
- Sustained increase in ICP
- Anaemia
- Electrolyte disturbances
- Vasospasm
- Hydrocephalus
- Seizures
- Infection
What type of energy was used to cause the injury?
Transfer of energy from the environment to tissue above the amount that be absorbed without dysfunction.
Dynamic or Angular loads
What are the 4 mechanisms of a TBI?
- Acceleration
- Deceleration
- Acceleration - deceleration
- Rotational forces
What is an example of acceleration (mechanism of TBI)?
Whiplash style injury
What is an example of deceleration (mechanism of TBI)?
blow to the head
What is an example of acceleration-deceleration (mechanism of TBI)?
Brain rebounds in the skull = coup-contracoup