Treatment:

The treatment depends on the specific location, severity, and cause of the bleeding. Treatment may include a lifesaving measure called medical hyperventilation, which involves inserting a breathing tube and forcing the person to breathe rapidly. This reduces pressure in the brain.

Surgery may be needed in some cases to repair or remove structures causing the bleed (such as a cerebral aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation).

Medicines may be prescribed to control pain, reduce swelling, and control seizures. If a bleeding disorder is present, medications or blood products may also be given.

Expectations (prognosis):

How well a patient does depends on the amount of swelling and how much blood collects in the brain.

Recovery may occur completely, or there may be some permanent loss of brain function. Death is possible, and may quickly occur despite prompt medical treatment.

Medications, surgery, or other treatments may have severe side effects.

Complications:

Complications will vary depending on the extent of damage and the location of the bleed.

In general, blood irritates the tissues of the brain and may cause swelling (cerebral edema). Blood collects into a mass (hematoma). These complications put increasing pressure on the brain and can destroy brain tissue. Blood can also irritate the delicate tissues covering the brain. This is called meningeal irritation.

Complications may include:

• Complications of surgery
• Hydrocephalus (fluid build-up the brain)
• Permanent loss of any brain function
• Seizure disorder
• Side effects of medications used to treat the disorder

Calling your health care provider:

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

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

Emergency symptoms include difficulty breathing, seizures, loss of ability to move or swallow, sudden loss of sensations, sudden change in mental state, and loss of consciousness.