Intraventricular hemorrhage (in·tra·ven·tric·u·lar - hem·or·rhage) or IVH is bleeding into the brain’s ventricular system (the communication network), which can result from physical trauma or from hemorrhaging (bleeding) during a stroke.
Overview
What is a pediatric intraventricular hemorrhage and stroke?
Intraventricular hemorrhage can damage or kill areas of the brain that are critical to development and motor function. Intraventricular hemorrhage is a frequent cause of death in premature infants (babies born more than three weeks early).
Types
What are the different types of a pediatric intraventricular hemorrhage and stroke?
Arterial bleeding - This type of hemorrhage results in additional loss of oxygen to tissue because arteries carry oxygenated blood to the heart. Arterial hemorrhages are harder to control than venous hemorrhages.
Venous bleeding - This type of hemorrhage affects the veins that return blood to the heart.
Signs and Symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of a pediatric intraventricular hemorrhage and stroke?
Symptoms of an intraventricular hemorrhage include:
Abnormal eye movement
Apnea (pauses in breathing)
Decreased muscle tone
Decreased reflexes
Excessive sleep or lethargy
Fallen blood count
Pale or blue coloring
Shrill cry
Weak suck
Symptoms of a stroke include:
Extreme sleepiness
Using only one side of the body
Causes
What are the causes of a pediatric intraventricular hemorrhage and stroke?
The cause of IVH can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (develops over time). A stroke (when blood flow to the brain is cut off and cells are damaged) is one cause of intraventricular hemorrhages.
Other causes include:
Blood-clotting abnormalities
Malformed or weakened blood vessels in the brain
Maternal high blood pressure (hypertension)
Maternal infection
Placental blood clots
Shaken baby syndrome (head trauma as a result of forcibly shaking a child age newborn to 5 years)
