Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage can be classified as either secondary (due to trauma, vascular malformations, aneurysms, tumors, or hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke) or primary (without a clear secondary cause). Intracerebral hemorrhage is a neurologic emergency, and leads to significant death and disability each year; care should be expedited and emergency departments should be equipped to appropriately care for and manage these patients. This review covers the risk factors, natural history, pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Figures show head computed tomographic scans demonstrating a left basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage, and an algorithm of management of intracerebral hemorrhage in the emergency department. Tables list some common causes of intracerebral hemorrhage, Boston criteria for diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy, mechanism of action of common anticoagulants, and suggested reversal agents. This review contains 2 figures, 6 tables, and 59 references. Key words: Intracerebral hemorrhage; intracranial hemorrhage; intraparenchymal hemorrhage; hemorrhagic stroke; hypertensive hemorrhage; spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage; ICH; cerebral bleeds