Infratentorial Herniation

Sep 26, 2004 01:47 AM written by neuro_6 | 2 Comments

:hatparty: Hi there,
This may be a stupid question, but hey, you won't know till you ask!
Can anyone tell me what region of the brain is the infratentorial area. How does herniation in this area differ from others, ie Uncal of supratentorial. I mean once you're herniating, it's not good, no matter what area....right?

gizelda · Oct 01, 2004, 09:51 AM

good question. critical care nurse oct 2004, just arrived in my mail box. this month is brain death and neuro monitoring. can you pick up a copy? I just a regular icu nurse I dont deal much with this injury unless the organ bank is in on the pt and is explaining it to me.

bestblondRN · Oct 03, 2004, 06:29 PM

The tentorium is a fold of dura mater that covers the cerebellum and supports the occipital lobes of the cerebrum. Supratentorial refers to anything above the tentorium and infratentorial refers to the structures beneath the tentorium. Infratentorial herniation is prognostically worse because it directly involves the brainstem and as those structures herniate, the regulation of hemodynamics and respiration becomes affected and then will cease.