Decompressive craniectomy

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Decompressive craniectomy is a surgical procedure in which part of the skull is removed to allow a swelling brain room to expand without being squeezed. It is performed on victims of traumatic brain injury. Though the procedure is considered a last resort, recent evidence suggests that it does improve outcomes by lowering intracranial pressure (Aarabi et al., 2006). Raised intracranial pressure can be very deadly because it causes compression of the brain restricts cerebral blood flow.

Reference

Aarabi B, Hesdorffer DC, Ahn ES, Aresco C, Scalea TM, and Eisenberg HM. 2006. [Outcome following decompressive craniectomy for malignant swelling due to severe head injury]. Journal of Neurosurgery, Volume 104, Issue 4, Pages 469-479.

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