Abstract
Cerebral herniation syndromes are medical emergencies caused by displacement of the brain across hard structures in the skull. Acute and/or asymmetric increases in intracranial pressure, as seen with hemorrhage into a tumor or obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, are most likely to cause herniation. Ill-timed lumbar puncture may also cause brain shifts by producing a pressure gradient. The syndromes evolve rapidly, over hours, and are characterized clinically by the following symptoms:
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Progressive obtundation
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Pupillary and oculomotor signs
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3.
Motor signs
Treatment is designed to reduce intracranial pressure through hyperventilation, steroids, osmotic agents, and surgery.
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© 1987 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Kanner, R. (1987). Cerebral Herniation Syndromes. In: Dutcher, J.P., Wiernik, P.H. (eds) Handbook of Hematologic and Oncologic Emergencies. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0476-8_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0476-8_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0478-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0476-8
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