Brain Edema Formation in Traumatic Brain Injury

The present chapter is presenting the knowledge gathered for the mechanisms involved in brain edema formation in traumatic brain injury (TBI) preclinical models. The classical subdivision of brain edema formation into cytotoxic and vasogenic edema has been recently revised with a better definition of the time-, space-dependent course of brain edema formation, and presentation of ionic edema. In regard to the recent advances, we are proposing a re-organization of the events contributing to brain edema formation as follows: primary vasogenic edema, accompanied/followed by ionic/cytotoxic edema, and then delayed vasogenic edema with massive disruption of the blood–brain barrier. These events result in an increased total brain volume with devastating consequences for the final outcome of TBI.