My grandmother had a brain hemorrhage and is in ICU. What are the options that we have now?

Question

Hello doctor,

My grandmother is 90 years old. She had a brain hemorrhage two days back. She is in intensive care unit (ICU). She is unconscious from the last two days. There is toe movement and sometimes, there are some leg movements. She has high blood pressure. The doctors in my place are saying nothing can be done. What are the options that we have now?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. Your grandmother seems to be having primary intraventricular hemorrhage with hydrocephalus. At the age of 90 years, definitely the prognosis is likely to be poor. But still, hope should be kept. In such condition, the next treatment option can be EVD- external ventricular drainage. It is a small surgery of the brain in which a small tube is inserted into the ventricles of the brain and then the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and hemorrhage are let to be drained outside in a bag. Treatment plan include external ventricular drainage.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. External ventricular drainage (EVD) will help in draining the blood out of the ventricles and reduce pressure inside the brain. The common complication of EVD is the infection. Definitely, EVD will help, but the prognosis will not be good. At this age, it will be poorer.