Lobar intracerebral hemorrhage Health Article

Complications

Blood irritates the tissues of the brain and may cause swelling (cerebral edema). Blood collects into a mass (hematoma). Both cerebral edema and the presence of a hematoma within the brain will put increasing pressure on the tissues of the brain and can destroy those tissues.

Blood may collect in the subarachnoid space and irritate the membranes covering the brain (meningeal irritation). Complications will vary depending on the extent of damage and the location of the bleed:

• Hydrocephalus (water on the brain)
• Permanent loss of any brain function
• Side effects of medications used to treat the disorder
• Complications of surgery
• Seizure disorder

Calling your health care provider

Go to the emergency room or call 911 if anyone has symptoms of a brain hemorrhage.

Any type of intracerebral hemorrhage is a severe condition ("brain attack") requiring prompt medical attention. It may develop quickly into a life-threatening situation.

Prevention

Treatment and controlling any risk-related disorders may reduce the risk of developing a brain hemorrhage.

High blood pressure should be treated as appropriate. Do not stop taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your health care provider!Abruptly stopping such medications could lead to this disorder.

If you take blood thinners, your medication dosage needs to be monitored by blood tests, as directed by your health care provider, to make sure that the medications aren't making bleeding too likely and increasing your risk of hemorrhage.

References

Woo D, Kaushal R, Chakraborty R, et. al. Association of apolipoprotein E4 and haplotypes of the apolipoprotein E gene with lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. Stroke. 2005 Sep;36(9):1874-9.