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Intracranial Pressure ICP

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Brain injuries are at an all-time high across America, with 5.3 million Americans currently living with conditions resulting from traumatic brain injury, such as neuropsychological impairment. This impairment results in disabilities that can affect a person's work life, family life, and social activity. Additionally, it is estimated that more than 50,000 Americans die as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, and according to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), 1.5 million Americans experience a traumatic brain injury yearly.

Intracranial pressure (ICP) is the amount of pressure that the cranium applies on the brain tissue, the blood volume within the brain, and cerebrospinal fluid. Intracranial fluid changes depending on activities such as exercise, straining, coughing, arterial pulsation and respiration. Brain trauma is one of the leading causes of intracranial pressure, especially the types of trauma that cause hematoma and cerebral edema. Because these conditions shift brain structures, kill brain tissue and add to cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, they are all causes of increased intracranial pressure.

A person with an intracranial pressure of more than 25mmHg is usually in fatal condition if they are an adult. Children can endure increased pressures for longer spans of time. Some common signs and symptoms of ICP are headaches, nausea, vomiting, distorted levels of consciousness, visual disturbances, slow heartbeat, and odd respiratory patterns.

While there are varying levels of traumatic brain injury, including mild, moderate, and severe, certain common conditions resulting from brain injury, such as intracranial pressure resulting from a skull fracture, are almost always severe. This increase in normal brain pressure can cause irreversible damage to the central nervous system; excess intracranial pressure can be fatal. While severe head injury is the most common cause of intracranial pressure, conditions such as a brain tumor, stroke, subdural hematoma, hydrocephalus, hypertensive brain hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, meningitis, encephalitis, aneurysm rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage, and status epilepticus can also increase intracranial pressure.

A brain injury will affect people in many different ways. Some cases are much more severe than others, and so the recovery process for different individuals will require different methods and treatments. Some injuries are reduced in severity by steps taken by paramedics before the patient arrives at the hospital. Unfortunately, all brain injuries are not like this. Many require regular therapies, rehabilitations, and other treatments.

Recovery and rehabilitation from a brain injury can be a long process. There are many medical treatments that can help those who have suffered a brain injury or brain damage. Rehabilitation, such as occupational and physical therapy, is very common. Also, speech and language therapy are given to those who have suffered a brain injury. Cognitive impairments are quite common in those who have had a brain injury.

If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident that has resulted in severe brain injury that leads to intracranial pressure, you should hire a brain injury lawyer or attorney immediately to help you recover damages suffered as a result of the accident. While no amount of money can reverse the damage done by a brain injury, it can certainly help cover all current and future medical expenses resulting from the accident. In some cases, the victim may even be able to recover damages for pain and suffering.

It's best not to wait to contact a brain injury lawyer or attorney, as statutes of limitations do apply in most states. Procrastinating could be costly for you and it could hinder your case in many ways. When seeking a brain injury lawyer or attorney, look for one who has experience in litigating brain injury cases, since they can often be more complex than other personal injury lawsuits. To locate an experienced and successful brain injury lawyer or attorney in your area, visit the American Bar Association website.