What does a brain herniation mean?
Brain herniation occurs when something inside the skull produces pressure that moves brain tissues. This is most often the result of brain swelling or bleeding from a head injury, stroke, or brain tumor. Brain herniation can be a side effect of tumors in the brain, including: Metastatic brain tumor.
Can you survive a brain herniation?
The outlook varies, depending on where in the brain the herniation occurs. Without treatment, death is likely. There can be damage to parts of the brain that control breathing and blood flow. This can rapidly lead to death or brain death.
What is the most common type of brain herniation?
Subfalcine hernia, also known as midline shift or cingulate hernia, is the most common type of cerebral hernia. It is generally caused by unilateral frontal, parietal, or temporal lobe disease that creates a mass effect with medial direction, pushing the ipsilateral cingulate gyrus down and under the falx cerebri.
How is brain herniation diagnosed?
Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is done to diagnose brain herniation. Doctors treat causes if possible and take measures to support breathing (such as mechanical ventilation) and to reduce the increased pressure within the skull.
Which brain herniation is the most life threatening?
Central herniation Downward herniation can stretch branches of the basilar artery (pontine arteries), causing them to tear and bleed, known as a Duret hemorrhage. The result is usually fatal.
What is Supratentorial herniation?
Supratentorial refers to herniation of structures normally found above the tentorial notch, and infratentorial refers to structures normally found below it.
What is the Uncus?
The uncus is the anatomical structure located within the mesial temporal lobe that can herniate over the tentorial edge and compress the oculomotor nerve.
What passes through the incisura of the brain?
The midbrain and cerebral peduncles pass through the incisura. The uncus and hippocampus are located just superior to the medial edges of the incisura. The basal cisterns are spaces filled with CSF and located in the subarachnoid space. They contain the proximal portions of some cranial nerves and basal cerebral arteries.
Why is a midline shift sign considered ominous?
Midline shift sign is considered ominous because it is commonly associated with a distortion of the brain stem that can cause serious dysfunction evidenced by abnormal posturing and failure of the pupils to constrict in response to light 4). Midline shift is often associated with high intracranial pressure (ICP), which can be life-threatening 5).
What is the tentorial incisura in the brain?
Tentorial incisura, superior views. A, the left cerebrum, above the level of the cerebral peduncle, has been removed to expose the anterior, middle, and posterior incisural spaces. The thalamus, which forms the floor of the body of the lateral ventricle, sits directly above the central part of the tentorial incisura.
What is significant midline shift in a traumatic brain lesion?
Significant midline shift (> 5 mm) is a key indication for surgical management in a number of traumatic brain lesions, including extra- and subdural hematomas and traumatic parenchymal lesions 8).