Fig. (2).

Pathophysiology of vasogenic and cytotoxic edema after traumatic brain injury: Vasogenic edema: After brain insult, disruption of the endothelial tight junctions in the BBB leads to the accumulation of fluid and albumin content in brain parenchyma. Cytotoxic edema: Brain injury induces depletion of ATP production, ultimately responsible for the disturbance in the functioning of ATP-dependent pumps (e.g. Na⁺-K⁺ pump). These events cause intra-extracellular ion imbalance. Finally, there is an excessive inflow of Na⁺ ions and extracellular fluid resulting in cell swelling. Ionic edema: Due to the depletion of extracellular Na⁺ by the excessive inflow into cells that is a compensatory outflow of Na⁺ and fluid from blood vessels into cerebral parenchyma. Brown spheres: albumin; Gray spheres: Na⁺ ions. (A higher resolution/colour version of this figure is available in the electronic copy of the article).