[4][5] Symptoms of IVH are similar to other intracerebral hemorrhages and include sudden onset of headache, nausea and vomiting, together with an alteration of the mental state and/or level of consciousness.

Instead it is thought to result from changes in perfusion of the delicate cellular structures that are present in the growing brain, augmented by the immaturity of the cerebral circulatory system, which is especially vulnerable to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

[11] Diagnosis can be confirmed by the presence of blood inside the ventricles on CT.[7] In term and preterm infants with IVH, the amount of bleeding varies.

After a grade III or IV IVH, blood clots may form which can block the flow of cerebrospinal flud, leading to increased fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus).

[13] Treatment focuses on monitoring and should be accomplished with inpatient floor service for individuals responsive to commands or neurological ICU observation for those with impaired levels of consciousness.

[2][14] In cases of unilateral IVH with small intraparenchymal hemorrhage the combined method of stereotaxy and open craniotomy has produced promising results.

[citation needed] More research is required, in the form of high quality randomized controlled trials, to determine the safety, dosing, and effectiveness of prophylactic heparin and antithrombin treatment for preterm neonates.

[7] Prognosis is very poor when IVH results from intracerebral hemorrhage related to high blood pressure and is even worse when hydrocephalus follows.

[14] Second, the breakdown products from the blood clot may generate an inflammatory response that damages the arachnoid granulations, inhibiting the regular re-absorption of CSF and resulting in permanent communicating hydrocephalus.

[23] Professors Whitelaw's original Cochrane review[16] published in 2001 as well as evidence from previous randomized control trials indicated that interventions should be based on clinical signs and symptoms of ventricular dilatation.

[25] Repeated lumbar punctures are used widely to reduce the effects in increased intracranial pressure and an alternative to ventriculoperitonael (VP) shunt surgery that cannot be performed in case of intraventricular hemorrhage.