Increased intracranial pressure may be caused by Space-occupying lesions (eg, brain tumor, edema, or abscess; contusions; hematomas) Generalized swelling or edema of the brain (eg, due to acute liver failure or hypertensive encephalopathy) Increased venous pressure (eg, due to heart failure, obstruction of superior mediastinal or jugular veins, or venous sinus thrombosis) Obstruction of the CSF flow (eg, due to hydrocephalus or extensive meningeal disease) Symptoms and Signs of Brain Herniation Symptoms and signs of brain herniation are listed in the table below.