How to Diagnose a Cerebral Hemorrhage

Basically put, a cerebral hemorrhage is bleeding in the brain. Cerebral hemorrhages are generally classified by the area of the brain in which they affect, such as epidural and subdural. This condition is considered extremely serious, as it can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke and possibly even death. It is extremely important for a doctor to correctly diagnose a cerebral hemorrhage as quickly as possible to help prevent serious complications. Read on to find out how to form a diagnosis.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• MRI
• CT scan
• Hospital facilities

Run Tests to Determine the Cause of the Cerebral Hemorrhage

1. Determine whether the patient suffers from increased intracranial pressure or decreased brain functions. The first will cause the patient headaches and nausea while the latter will hamper speech and understanding—the difference is huge. A neurologist can tell which part of the brain is affected.

2. Run a head CT scan or a head MRI. These two methods are the best tools modern medicine has to look at the brain. Neurologists will be able to look at the results and know exactly where in the brain the bleeding occurs.

3. Examine the patient's eyes and vision. Swelling in the optic nerve may be visible. Any changes in vision or eye movement will add insight into the cause of the hemorrhage.

4. Run blood tests. Bleeding, by nature, is often a symptom of a blood disorder. Run a CBC (complete blood count), a platelet count, a bleeding time test, a prothrombin time (PT) or a partial thromboplastin time (PTT). If the patient has lost too much blood, or if there is a problem with the patient's clotting, the doctors will need to know.

5. Test liver and kidney function. Liver and kidney disorders will often affect blood in the same way as some blood disorders. If a problem with a patient's blood originates from the liver or kidney, the doctor's approach might need to be altered.

6. Think about having a cerebral angiography performed. This test uses a combination of X-rays and contrast dye inserted through a catheter to help doctors determine whether the carotid arteries are open and functioning properly.

Diagnose the Severity of the Cerebral Hemorrhage

7. Judge the level of emergency. All cerebral hemorrhages are considered critical, but some patients can be stabilized enough for some necessary tests. However, other patients will have to be rushed to surgery without any tests at all.

8. Diagnose the severity of the patient's symptoms. Doctors use the Hunt and Hess scale to rate the severity of cerebral hemorrhages. The lowest rank on the scale would be a headache. The highest rank would be coma.

Tips & Warnings

• Diagnosing a cerebral hemorrhage is a rush job. Life is at stake and life is the first priority. Because of this, the patient's long-term health may be compromised by errors or delays.

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