Ventricular haemorrhage.

Our clinical experiments with a simulation of intracerebral haematomas in hypertonics and our clinical experiences lead us to the conclusions that a pure isolated ventricular haemorrhage causes according to the quantity of blood only a gradual increase of intracranial pressure. Pia's three classical types are marking points on the continual scale from haematocephalus totalis to haemorrhage. Haematoma rupture into the ventricles is to a certain degree a beneficial increase of intracranial volume reserve. Pia's types can be supplemented with the so called "pseudoventricular haemorrhage" in which the haematoma only bulges into the ventricle and is covered by ependym. Hypertonics with the bleeding into basal ganglias do not die as a result of blood bursting into the ventricles, but owing to secondary brainstem compression. Ventricular haemorrhage is therefore not decisive for the indication of an operation. In the case of a pure ventricular haemorrhage with signs of intracranal hypertension a bilateral external drainage should be carried out.