Actions of emergency medical services personnel in cases of cerebral edema

Cerebral edema is a pathological increase in brain volume resulting from the accumulation of fluid in the intercellular space (interstitium). Brain swelling (intracellular edema) is characterized by an increase in cell volume due to intracellular fluid. In clinical practice, these conditions often occur simultaneously, so the generalized term «cerebral edema» is commonly used. Brain edema is a secondary symptom that complicates the course of many diseases of the nervous system: traumatic brain injury, ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, tumors, abscesses, encephalitis, meningitis, hypoxia, occlusive hydrocephalus, osmotic imbalance, intoxications, burns, and malignant hypertension.