REPORT OF JOINT COMMITTEE FOR STROKE RESOURCES IV. Brain Edema in Stroke STUDY GROUP ON BRAIN EDEMA IN STROKE

SUMMARY A classification of brain edema is provided as well as an extensive review of the animal models from which we have derived most of the basic information we have about the formation and resolution of edema. The clinical aspects of cerebral edema in stroke are discussed and also modern methods for identifying cerebral edema in the human. Attention is given to computed tomography and enhanced CT and advances in their application to this con-dition. Treatment of cerebral edema in the stroke patient using glycerol, dextran 40, mannitol, steroids, and other drugs is discussed and the need pointed out for controlled clinical trials of the therapeutic effec-tiveness of these agents. THE IMPORTANCE of brain swelling in the pathogenesis of stroke assumes growing significance as physicians increase their understanding of cerebrovascular diseases and thei