Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a significant source of death and permanent disability, contributing to nearly one-third of all injury related deaths in the United States and exacting a profound personal and economic toll. Despite the increased resources that have recently been brought to bear to improve our understanding of TBI, the developme

This e-book will review special features of the cerebral circulation and how they contribute to the physiology of the brain. It describes structural and functional properties of the cerebral circulation that are unique to the brain, an organ with high metabolic demands and the need for tight water and ion homeostasis. Autoregulation is pronounced in the brain, with myogenic, metabolic and neurogenic mechanisms contributing to maintain relatively constant blood flow during both increases and decreases in pressure. In addition, unlike peripheral organs where the majority of vascular resistance resides in small arteries and arterioles, large extracranial and intracranial arteries contribute significantly to vascular resistance in the brain. The prominent role of large arteries in cerebrovascular resistance helps maintain blood flow and protect downstream vessels during changes in perfusion pressure. The cerebral endothelium is also unique in that its barrier properties are in some way more like epithelium than endothelium in the periphery. The cerebral endothelium, known as the blood-brain barrier, has specialized tight junctions that do not allow ions to pass freely and has very low hydraulic conductivity and transcellular transport. This special configuration modifies Starling's forces in the brain microcirculation such that ions retained in the vascular lumen oppose water movement due to hydrostatic pressure. Tight water regulation is necessary in the brain because it has limited capacity for expansion within the skull. Increased intracranial pressure due to vasogenic edema can cause severe neurologic complications and death.

This second edition presents core clinical neuroanesthesia and neurointensive care knowledge in a practical, user-friendly format.

This book provides a valuable guide to understanding idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), which is a very complex and painful disease. It is a chronic, often disabling condition resulting in headaches, visual loss, and ringing in the ears. This condition was thought to be rare but is becoming much more common, especially as the population becomes more overweight. Patients with this condition often suffer from intractable headaches with poor quality of life. Very few physicians specialize in this condition, and as a result, there is almost no information or resources available to those trying to understand this condition. The text is designed to take very complex neurosurgical anatomy, principles, and treatments and reduce them down into simple principles. The book contains 12 chapters, each organized into distinct sections. All chapters also contain key points from those paragraphs to summarize useful take home messages. Written by an expert specializing in this debilitating condition, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Explained serves as a valuable guide towards understanding and treating IIH. The ultimate goal is to empower patients and families with knowledge about the disease.

The definitive manual of pediatric medicine - completely updated with 75 new chapters and e-book access.

New and groundbreaking therapeutic options for the critical care of patients with cerebrovascular disease have improved patient management, minimized morbidity, reduced in-patient care, improved quality of life, and had a positive economic impact on health service provision. This volume integrates these approaches and suggests the best therapy option for all cerebrovascular conditions. The early chapters of the book focus on monitoring techniques and interventions. Subsequent sections address the critical care of a wide range of cerebrovascular diseases: ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformations, cerebral venous thrombosis and traumatic injury. The editors and authors are internationally recognized experts in their field, and the text is supplemented by tables and illustrations to demonstrate important clinical findings. This book will meet the needs of stroke physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointensivists and interventional neuroradiologists seeking to maximize positive outcomes for their patients.