Diagnosis and Treatment of the Intracranial Compartment Syndrome

Abstract

The intracranial compartment syndrome is a condition characterized by a set of clinical symptoms and signs due to a rise in intracranial pressure (ICP). Intracranial hypertension is a life-treating condition that requires quick diagnosis and treatment; otherwise, it may progress in herniation syndrome and death. Consequently, timely recognition and management of elevated ICP is the first goal in order to maintain good cerebral perfusion pressure and to prevent irreversible secondary cerebral insult. Several pathologies may cause raised ICP, and it is fundamental to treat the specific underlying disease. Therefore, neuromonitoring assumes paramount significance for the rapid detection of harmful events and for a quick evaluation of the efficacy of medical treatment. In this chapter, we aimed to provide an overview of the current knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment of intracranial compartment syndrome.