An intracerebral hemorrhage (also known as ICH or cerebral bleeding) occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, flooding the brain tissue with blood. This sudden increase in pressure inside the brain can cause severe damage to the surrounding brain cells, leading to unconsciousness or death. Intracerebral hemorrhages are the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke, occurring more frequently than subarachnoid hemorrhages.
Hypertension (or high blood pressure) is the most common cause of ICH, but ICHs can also be due to arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), trauma, blood clotting deficiencies, tumors or infections. Diagnosis generally follows a CT scan and MRI, and treatment may include surgery. ICHs are extremely serious and can often result in death or long-term mental disability, physical disability or both.