Monro-Kellie

The pathophysiology of this and its management is an essential part of neurophysiology.

You should be able to explain graphs relating to cerebral autoregulation, the effects of PCO2 and PO2 on cerebral blood flow, and the Monroe-Kelly hypothesis.

Also note that whilst historically an ICP of over 20 has been considered pathological, more recent guidance from the Brain Trauma Foundation has suggested that those of over 22 should be treated.

To minimise your learning trauma on this subject, Rachel.

The primary brain injury causes a cascade of pathophysiological processes within the brain, which themselves are potentially reversible.

Cerebral perfusion pressure equals mean arterial pressure minus intracranial pressure or central venous pressure, whichever is highest.

The Monroe-Kelly Doctrine states that the skull is a fixed box and its combined volume of contents, brain tissue, CSF and blood, remain constant.

If one component increases in volume, another must decrease in volume to avoid a rise in intracranial pressure.