California Brain Herniation Attorneys
Brain Herniation
If the brain, cerebrospinal fluid and blood vessels move away from their normal position inside your skull or otherwise experience compression, brain herniation can be the unfortunate outcome. It can result in serious complications including irreversible neurological deficits, a massive stroke or death.
Possible Causes
The cause of such movement or pressure may be a blow to the head or other injury that makes the brain swell within the confines of your skull. However, herniation can also be a side effect of the following:
- Brain tumor
- Abscess
- Hydrocephalus
- Stroke
Symptoms of Brain Herniation
If you or someone you love experiences any of the following symptoms, you should seek immediate medical care:
- Cardiac and/or respiratory arrest
- Irregular breathing and/or pulse
- Lack of reflexive blinking, pupil reactions to light and gagging
- Loss of consciousness
Is There Treatment for Brain Herniation?
The answer is a qualified yes, but it is vital to take lifesaving measures as quickly as possible. Any person showing symptoms of possible brain herniation requires evaluation for changes in alertness, irregular heartbeat and breathing and loss of the reflexes governed by the brain stem as described previously. After a diagnosis of brain herniation, treatment will likely include the following:
- Insertion of a drain into the skull to remove excess fluid or blood
- Administration of corticosteroids and other medications that reduce fluid levels
- Insertion of a tube down the airway to artificially increase breathing rate, thus reducing the buildup of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream
As long as you receive prompt medical treatment, it is possible to survive a brain herniation although you are still likely to experience the negative after-effects of such massive trauma. You may lose significant neurological capabilities and require long-term rehabilitative treatment and care.
How to Avoid Brain Herniation
While there is little you can do to avoid experiencing a herniation, there are some ways to guard against such a devastating outcome. For example, if you are diagnosed as suffering from a brain tumor, your doctor should be monitoring you regularly for any sign of fluid buildup so that you can receive treatment with medication before it puts too much pressure on your brain. Likewise, if you suffer a head injury, you should seek immediate medical attention even if it doesn’t seem all that serious at the time. Doctors can observe you for any indications of intracranial bleeding or swelling of your brain tissues and treat these conditions before they result in herniation.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain herniation in California, please contact a California brain injury attorney at The Brain Injury Legal Help Center for more information, or to discuss your situation. Call (800) 610-1892 today.