Cerebral vascular resistance Cerebral vascular resistance The The fourth principle fourth principle : : Injured tissue swells, making obvious the Injured tissue swells, making obvious the potential for a cascading injury by a vicious potential for a cascading injury by a vicious cycle. If the stage pensation mentioned cycle. If the stage pensation mentioned earlier, even with therapy, is exceeded and ICP earlier, even with therapy, is exceeded and ICP is elevated high enough by whatever mechanism is elevated high enough by whatever mechanism so that cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) so that cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) declines, CBF can decline to levels where tissue declines, CBF can decline to levels where tissue injury occurs. injury occurs.