| Intraventricular hemorrhage | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
CT scan showing spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage with bleeding in the third and both lateral ventricles and hydrocephalus[1] |
|
| ICD-10 | I61.5, P10.2, P52 |
| ICD-9 | 431, 772.1 |
| DiseasesDB | 6906 |
| eMedicine | ped/2595 |
| MeSH | D002543 |
An intraventricular hemorrhage (or intraventricular haemorrhage in British English), often abbreviated "IVH," is a bleeding into the brain's ventricular system, where the cerebrospinal fluid is produced and circulates through towards the subarachnoid space. It can result from physical trauma or from hemorrhaging in stroke.
Contents |
This type of hemorrhage is particularly common in infants, especially premature infants or those of very low birth weight.[2] The cause of IVH in premature infants, unlike that in older infants, children or adults, is rarely due to trauma. Instead it is thought to result from changes in perfusion of the delicate cellular structures that are present in the growing brain, augmented by the immaturity of the cerebral circulatory system, which is especially vulnerable to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. The lack of blood flow results in cell death and subsequent breakdown of the blood vessel walls, leading to bleeding. While this bleeding can result in further injury, it is itself a marker for injury that has already occurred. Most intraventricular hemorrhages occur in the first 72 hours after birth.[2] The risk is increased with use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in preterm infants.[3]
The amount of bleeding varies. IVH is often described in four grades:
Grades I and II are most common, and often there are no further complications. Grades III and IV are the most serious and may result in long-term brain injury to the infant. After a grade III or IV IVH, blood clots may form which can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to increased fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus).
There has been various therapies employed into preventing the high rates of morbidity and mortality, including diuretic therapy,[4] repeated lumbar puncture,[5] streptokinase therapy [6] and most recently combination a novel intervention DRIFT (drainage, irrigation and fibrinolytic therapy).
In 2002 a Dutch retrospective study[7] analysed cases where neonatologists had intervened and drained CSF by lumbar or ventricular punctures if ventricular width (as shown on Ultrasound) exceeded the 97th centile as opposed to the 97th centile plus 4mm.[8] Professors Whitelaw's original cochrane [4] review published in 2001 as well as evidence from previous randomised control trials indicated that interventions should be based on clinical signs and symptoms of ventricular dilatation. An international trial has instead looked a early (97th centile) versus late (97th centile plus 4mm) for intervening and draining CSF.[9]
DRIFT has been tested in an international randomised clinical trial, although it did not significantly lower the need for shunt surgery, severe cognitive disability at 2 years Bayley (MDI <55) was significantly reduced.[10] Repeated Lumbar punctures is used widely to reduce the effects in increased intracranial pressure and an alternative to ventriculo-shunt (VP) surgery that cannot be preformed incase of intraventricular haemorrhage. The relative risk of repeated lumbar puncture is close to 1.0 therefore it is not statistically therapeutic when compared to conservative management and does raise the risk of subsequent CSF infection.[5] Another DRFIT trial is planned involving a large number of infants to validate previous data and expand on the viability of performing the invasive procedure nationwide.
Intraventricular hemorrhage has been found to occur in 35% of moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries.[11] The injury requires a great deal of force to cause. Thus the hemorrhage usually does not occur without extensive associated damage, and so the outcome is rarely good.[12][13]
Prognosis is also dismal when IVH results from intracerebral hemorrhage related to high blood pressure and is even worse when hydrocephalus follows.[1] It can result in dangerous increases in intracranial pressure and can cause potentially fatal brain herniation.[1]
Brain contusions and subarachnoid hemorrhages are commonly associated with IVH.[14] The bleeding can involve the middle communicating artery or the posterior communicating artery.
In both adults and infants, IVH can cause dangerous increases in intracranial pressure, damage to the brain tissue, and hydrocephalus.[2][15]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||