Walsh & Hoyt: Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: Treatment

Treatment of patients with CVT can be divided into management of symptoms, addressing etiologies, and antithrombotic measures. Some aspects of treatment remain controversial, in large part due to the variability in the clinical manifestations and outcome of this disorder. Symptomatic treatments include airway and fluid support, managementof seizures, and control of increased ICP and its consequences. Intubation and mechanical ventilation are required for more severe cases. Fluid support should be selected to avoid dehydration (which may further promote thrombosis) and maintain cerebral perfusion pressure without unduly elevating systolic blood pressure and thereby elevating the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. To avoid further increasing ICP, hypotonic solutions should be avoided.