Final answer:
Cerebral edema is the condition that contributes to cerebral vasodilation and increased intracranial pressure, often associated with hemorrhagic strokes where bleeding in the brain tissues causes a buildup of pressure and damages neural structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition that damages a patient's brain tissue and contributes to cerebral vasodilation and increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is cerebral edema. In the case of a hemorrhagic stroke, a damaged blood vessel results in bleeding within the brain, causing the accumulation of blood in the cranial vault which applies pressure on brain tissue and contributes to ICP. Additionally, as blood pools and the vasculature is compromised, the blood-brain barrier may fail, causing additional fluid to accumulate, known as edema. This accumulation exacerbates the platelet pooling of a stroke, resulting in further increased ICP and cerebral vasodilation, potentially leading to significant neural damage, or even fatality, if not treated promptly.