ACUTE VASOPARALYSIS AFTER SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE AND CEREBRAL TRAUMA- GENERAL REFLEX PHENOMENON

In patients with head trauma and consecutive acute diffuse cerebral sw elling the sudden initial rise in intracranial pressure with subsequen t impairment of cerebral blood flow is explained by engorgement due to vasoparalysis. How quickly hyperaemic brain swelling can occur is sho wn by a case report. The review oi clinical and experimental data show s strong evidence that a general reflex phenomenon could be the result of this initial vasoparalysis in acute diffuse cerebral swelling in h ead trauma and acute aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.