Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 a concussion include headache or pressure in the head, temporary unconsciousness, state of confusion, amnesia, dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, memory complaints, loss of balance, altered sleeping and eating patterns, fatigue, appearing dazed, and delayed response. Cerebral Edema/Increased Intracranial Pressure Also known as swelling or edema of brain, this can occur at any part of the brain, depending on the cause of swelling. A brain edema causes the pressure to elevate inside the skull such that normal flow of blood to the brain gets obstructed. This pressure curbs the normal functioning of the brain as the oxygen and nutrient-rich blood does not reach the cells and tissues of the brain. It may also lead to the inability of the brain to drain other fluids necessary for proper functioning, which worsens the swelling. Causes of brain edema are traumatic brain injury, ischemic strokes, intra-cerebral hemorrhage and strokes, brain tumors, travelling at high altitudes, and bacterial or viral infections like meningitis, encephalitis, toxoplasmosis, and subdural empyema. Signs and symptoms of brain edema include headache, stiffness and pain in the neck, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, irregular breathing, loss or change in vision, loss of memory, inability to balance and walk, unconsciousness, difficulty in speaking, and seizures. Hematoma In general terms, hematoma is defined as the accumulation of blood outside the blood vessels. It is characterized by an injury to the wall of the blood vessel such that blood leaks and seeps out of the vessels. Hematomas of the brain include subdural hematoma, intracranial epidural hematoma, and intra-parenchymal hematoma. Subdural hematoma is characterized by bleeding under the skull and outside the brain. With the rise in blood accumulation, the pressure of blood increases, which has the potential to cause unconsciousness and eventually death. Causes of subdural hematoma include head injury, bleeding disorders, and blood thinners. Symptoms include headache, confusion, dizziness, seizures, nausea, vomiting, apathy, lethargy, and weakness. Intracranial epidural hematoma, also known as extradural hematoma, is characterized by the rupturing of the artery or blood vessel between the outer surface of the dura matter and the skull. It causes leakage of blood, which compresses the tissues of the brain. Signs include drowsiness and coma. Intra-parenchymal hematoma is also known as intra-cerebral hematoma in which blood accumulates inside the brain. It causes serious brain damage. This trauma leads to white matter sheer injuries and torn axons in the white matter of the brain. These axons are responsible for carrying electrical impulses from neurons in the brain to other parts of the body. This hematoma disturbs these connections and causes serious injury. Achieve Page 90