What Is Intracerebral Hemorrhage? Singapore Model Dies While Singing Karaoke

A 28-year-old part-time model, Karen Stella Wong, died three days after she went into coma due to acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). The incident took place when Wong was singing at a karaoke lounge located along Neil Road in Singapore with her friends Dec. 12. She started having headache and suddenly felt numbness on one side of her body.

Wong’s father Laurence Wong confirmed that his daughter, a marketing consultant who had modelled for companies like Singtel, did not have any medical history related to ICH, the Straits Times reported.

However, Lawrence said, “The SGH doctor said that even a common headache could be a symptom, but it is not likely for a doctor to ask a normal person with a headache to go for a scan.”

After Wong’s death, Lawrence was informed that his daughter’s organs had to be donated as per the Human Organ Transplant Act. According to the Act, all Singapore citizens and permanent residents above 21 years old, who have a sound mind and have not opted out, will have their kidneys, heart, liver and corneas donated when they die. Though Lawrence was unaware of it, he eventually donated his only daughter’s liver and both the kidneys.

Lawrence told the Straits Times, “I heard they managed to do transplants on three patients. I feel it’s a blessing that at least she can help three people.”

She was cremated on Dec. 20.

ICH, also known as cerebral bleed, is a condition when blood suddenly bursts into brain tissue, causing damage to the brain. This leads to leakage of blood inside the brain. The high blood pressure within the brain causes damage to the brain cells. If the amount of blood increases rapidly and there’s sudden rise in pressure, then it can lead to unconsciousness or death of a person. It usually occurs in particular parts of the brain like cerebellum, brain stem, or cortex.

The most common cause of ICH is high blood pressure. In younger people, abnormally formed blood vessels in the brain is another common cause.

Other causes of ICH include:

• Head injury or trauma
• Ruptured cerebral aneurysm, which means that there is a weak spot in a blood vessel that bursts
• A group of deformed blood vessels
• Use of blood thinners
• Bleeding tumors
• Use of cocaine or methamphetamine

According to the Mayfield Clinic, approximately 70,000 new cases occur each year, which means nearly 10 percent of strokes are caused by ICH. It has a 40 percent risk of death. It is more frequent among men as compared to women. It is also very common among young and middle-aged African Americans and Japanese.

ICH is a critical condition and needs emergency attention. The symptoms of the disease differs depending on which part of the brain is bleeding. However, the common symptoms include:

• Headache, nausea, and vomiting
• Lethargy or confusion
• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side
• Loss of consciousness
• Temporary loss of vision
• Seizures

Generally, if the patient is treated within the first three hours of the onset of symptoms, it will result in a better outcome. Surgical treatment can be done remove the clots, control pressure and repair torn arteries. The patient may take weeks, months, or years to recover and regain function.