Search 33,000+ CME courses
Back

StatPearls, LLC

  • Coma

Brain Herniation

Brain herniation refers to pathologic displacement of brain tissue across rigid dural folds or skull openings due to pressure gradients created by rising intracranial pressure (ICP). Guided by the Monro Kellie doctrine, intracranial dynamics reflect the fixed relationship among brain parenchyma, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid; once compensatory mechanisms fail, rapid decompensation may occur. This course details recognized patterns of brain herniation, including subfalcine, uncal, central transtentorial (descending or ascending), cerebellar tonsillar, transalar, and transcalvarial herniations, along with the characteristic clinical and radiologic findings of each. The progressive loss of compliance produced with escalating ICP, reduced cerebral perfusion pressure, ischemia, and potential brainstem failure is also discussed. This activity reviews ICP physiology, waveform interpretation, autoregulation, multimodal neuromonitoring, and imaging correlates of herniation syndromes. Participants will also gain an understanding of red flags such as pupillary asymmetry, declining Glasgow Coma Scale score, abnormal posturing, and Cushing physiology, which demand urgent escalation and definitive management, as well as evidence-informed application of tiered therapies, airway and hemodynamic optimization, osmotherapy, cerebrospinal fluid diversion, and surgical decision-making. This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to enhance the learner’s competence in identifying brain herniation, performing the recommended evaluation, mitigating risks, managing complications, and implementing an appropriate interprofessional approach to improve neurologic outcomes and patient safety.

Credit & MOC Details

Credit information is provided by the course provider. We recommend confirming credit eligibility with the provider or your licensing board before starting the activity.

Credit types

IPCE CreditsUp to 2 creditsAAPA Category 1 Credit™Up to 2 creditsAMA PRA Category 1 Credit™Up to 2 creditsNursingUp to 2 creditsPharmacyUp to 2 credits

MOC types

ABS — Accredited CMEUp to 2 pointsABOS — Accredited CMEUp to 2 pointsABPATH — Lifelong LearningUp to 2 pointsABA — Lifelong LearningUp to 2 pointsABTS — Accredited CMEUp to 2 pointsABIM — Medical KnowledgeUp to 2 pointsABS — Self-AssessmentUp to 2 pointsABP — Lifelong Learning and Self-AssessmentUp to 2 pointsABTS — Self-AssessmentUp to 2 points

FDA REMS

No

Qualifies for MIPS

No

Target Specialties

Cross-Specialty

Relevant across 12 specialties.

Pricing

Fee varies

This provider typically $49–98

See fees on statpearls.com

Listed by the provider

  • Article / monograph / reference
  • Credit · Up to 2 credits
  • MOC · Up to 2 points
  • Fee varies · this provider typically $49–98
  • Released
    Sep 1, 2026
  • Last day to claim credit
    Sep 1, 2029 3 years left

More from StatPearls, LLC

See all

This provider’s courses closest to this one

Related courses

See all

Other providers’ courses on the same topic