This article discusses the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of hemorrhagic conversion.
Hemorrhagic Conversion Symptoms
Hemorrhagic transformations usually happen one or two weeks after a stroke begins.
In about 9% of cases, HC happens within 24 hours.
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That said, there are many cases in which there are no signs that hemorrhagic conversion is occurring.
The bleed may not be detected until acomputed tomography (CT) scan of the brainis done.
Complications
During a hemorrhagic conversion, blood pools within the brain and between brain tissues and theskull.
This preventsoxygencirculating in the blood from reaching the brain and causes tissue damage.
As blood collects, it also places immensepressure on the brain, heightening the degree of brain damage.
Both of these can have significant effects.
Related complications vary from person to person.
Most notably, hemorrhagic transformation carries a significantrisk of death.
For example:
Between 12% and 39% of people maintain long-termfunctional independenceafter their brain hemorrhage.
Recap
Hemorrhagic conversion usually happens within a week or two of a stroke.
It can cause symptoms such as headache, one-sided weakness, and loss of consciousness.
Restoring blood flow (recanalization) is the immediate goal of stroke treatment.
Thrombolytics are drugs that dissolve the blood clot that is causing the stroke.
They quickly get blood flowing to the brain to prevent as muchbrain damageas possible.
Unfortunately, damaged blood vessels can rupture and bleed into the brain when blood starts to pour back in.
This is hemorrhagic conversion.
Between 10% and 15% of people who have an ischemic stroke develop hemorrhagic conversion.
The older you are, the more likely you are to develop HC.
Window for Using tPA
Restoring blood flow (recanalization) is the immediate goal of stroke treatment.
Tissue plasminogen activator is the mainstay of emergency treatment for ischemic stroke.
It is highly regarded as a life-saving treatment that restores blood flow and prevents further tissue damage.
This potentblood thinneris given through an IV in the arm.
It is capable of dissolving 75% of a stroke-causing blood clot within eight minutes.
The benefits are impressive.
Call 911 immediately so that treatment can begin as soon as medics arrive.
Note that risk factors foruncontrolled bleedingin the brain can also make you ineligible to receive tPA treatment.
If given too late, it can increase the risk of hemorrhagic conversion.
Stroke survivors need to monitor their symptoms closely and call 911 if they develop any symptoms that resemble HC.
Doctors may use a blood vessel-narrowing medication likenorepinephrineto raise blood pressure at a controlled rate.
How the surgeon performs this procedure depends on the size of the hematoma.
This separate surgery is known as a cranioplasty.
An IV transfusion of a medication that helps clot blood is immediately given when a hemorrhagic conversion is diagnosed.
The risk of hemorrhagic conversion increases drastically the longer stroke treatment is delayed.
Know thesigns of strokeand call 911 if you notice or even suspect them.
Never drive yourself to the hospital.
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