Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Life-Threatening Emergency in the Brain
Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Life-Threatening Emergency in the Brain Dr. SB Lee, PhD (Medicine & Engineering) Biomedical Scientist | Radiology & AI Imaging Specialist What Is Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage (AICH)? Acute intracerebral hemorrhage (AICH) is a critical neurologic emergency that occurs when a blood vessel ruptures within the brain parenchyma, causing sudden bleeding. Unlike ischemic strokes, which are caused by blocked vessels, AICH involves spontaneous bleeding into brain tissue, often with devastating consequences. AICH represents about 10–15% of all strokes , but its mortality and disability rates are significantly higher than those of ischemic stroke. Without urgent diagnosis and intervention , it can rapidly lead to coma or death. Causes and Pathophysiology of AICH Common Causes Chronic hypertension (most common) Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) or cerebral aneurysms Anticoagulant use (e.g., warfarin, DOACs) Hemorrh...