Final answer:
The major complication of untreated increased intracranial pressure (IICP) can be severe, including neurological symptoms, systemic issues, and potentially fatal outcomes like coma and death. Conditions like hydrocephalus often require the implementation of a shunt to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid, with careful monitoring to prevent overdraining or underdraining.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major complication of untreated increased intracranial pressure (IICP) can be quite severe and often fatal. The symptoms due to increased pressure within the skull can include temperature instability, apnea, bradycardia, hypotension, feeding difficulty, irritability, limpness, seizures, bulging fontanel, stiff neck, opisthotonos, and hemiparesis. If not promptly treated, patients may experience a rapid decline in neurological function leading to coma and death. Additionally, complications like dehydration can lead to other systemic issues, such as depression, lethargy, loss of appetite, and a run-down feeling. In more advanced stages, fever, jaundice, hypotension, and disseminated intravascular coagulation may occur, potentially resulting in kidney failure and death.
To manage conditions like hydrocephalus, which is due to the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, a shunt can be implemented. This shunt drains CSF into the abdominal cavity to relieve pressure. However, it is crucial that the rates of drainage are carefully balanced to avoid complications such as overdraining or underdraining, which can lead to ventricle collapse, tearing of blood vessels, and hemorrhaging. Some shunts are equipped with an adjustable pressure valve to assist in managing this balance.
In sum, untreated IICP can lead to severe neurological deficits, systemic complications, and even death, emphasizing the importance of proper diagnosis, monitoring, and intervention to manage intracranial pressure.