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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Neuroanaesth Crit Care 2021; 08(03): 163-172
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1721165
Review Article

Pathophysiology of Cerebral Edema—A Comprehensive Review

Tara Dalby
1   Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
,
Elyana Wohl
2   Department of Anesthesia, Notre-Dame Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
,
Michael Dinsmore
1   Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
,
Zoe Unger
1   Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
,
Tumul Chowdhury
1   Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
,
Lakshmikumar Venkatraghavan
1   Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract

Cerebral edema is a condition where an excess of cerebral water accumulates due to primary neurological or non-neurological causes. Cerebral edema complicates many brain pathologies causing additional injury often in excess of the original neurological insult. Classic descriptions divide cerebral edema into cytotoxic, vasogenic, interstitial, and osmotic subtypes. The interplay of different mechanisms is important in the clinical manifestations. Recent research has advanced our understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of cerebral edema, exposing the central role of aquaporins and specific ion channels. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular pathophysiology of cerebral edema including unique disease specific mechanisms.

Keywords

cerebral edema - blood–brain barrier - aquaporins

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
03 December 2020

© 2020. Indian Society of Neuroanaesthesiology and Critical Care. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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