Craniotomy A craniotomy involves making an incision in the scalp and creating a hole known as a bone flap in the skull. The hole and incision are made near the area of the brain being treated. During open brain surgery, it is done to remove tumors, clip off an aneurysm, drain blood or fluid from an infection & remove abnormal brain tissue Decompressive craniectomy It is a neurosurgical 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, stroke and other conditions associated with raised intracranial pressure. Increased intracranial pressure is defined as cerebrospinal fluid pressure greater than 15 mm Hg. Infections Tumors Stroke Aneurysm Epilepsy Seizures Hydrocephalus Hypertensive brain injury Hypoxemia Meningitis Due to etiological factors Components of ICP is disturbed- brain tissue, CSF, blood volume An increase in the volume of ANY ONE component must be accompanied by a reciprocal decrease in one of the other components. When this volume-pressure relationship becomes unbalanced, ICP increases.