Intraventricular hemorrhages

Intraventricular hemorrhage (or "IVH") is a bleeding of the ventricles, where the cerebrospinal fluid is produced and circulates through towards the subarachnoid space.

In infants
This type of hemorrhage is particularly common in infants, especially premature infants or those of very low birth weight. 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. 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.

Images courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology

In adults
Intraventricular hemorrhage is rare in adults and requires a great deal of force to cause. Thus the hemorrhage usually does not occur without an extensive associated damage, and so the outcome is rarely good.

Associated conditions
Brain contusions and subarachnoid hemorrhages are commonly associated with IVH. 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.