Symptoms & Signs
- Cardiac arrest (no pulse)
- Coma
- Irregular breathing
- Irregular pulse
- Loss of all brainstem reflexes (blinking, gagging, pupils reacting to light)
- Progressive loss of consciousness
- Respiratory arrest (no breathing)
Diagnosis & Tests
A neurological exam shows changes in alertness (consciousness). Depending on the severity of the herniation, there will be problems with one or more brain-related reflexes and cranial nerve functions.
Patients with a brain herniation have irregular heart rhythms and difficulty breathing consistently.
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Brain herniation : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
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Brain herniation : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
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Brain herniation : Treatment
Review Date : 9/22/2008
Reviewed By : Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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