Can someone with brain swelling be treated successfully in the icu?

Usually yes: The question from me is why do you have cerebral edema. Cerebral edema is of two types, vasogenic, leaky blood vessels permitting fluid to move from the vascular beds into the cerebral white matter, and cytotoxic edema, a response to cell death. There is a third type which is mixed cytotoxic/vasogenic, and is seen less frequently. Treatment: steroids/hypertonic salt, mannitol.