Cerebral Venous Thrombosis

• Approximately 25% of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) will experience neurologic deterioration.
• This is most commonly due to an increase in ICP that results in transtentorial herniation.
• While heparin remains the treatment of choice for CVT, consider the following alternative strategies in the acutely decompensating patient:
  • Endovascular thrombolysis
  • Mechanical thrombectomy
  • Decompressive hemicraniectomy

References

Fam D, Saposnik G. Critical care management of cerebral venous thrombosis. Curr Opin Crit Care 2016; 22:113-9.