A Clinical Analysis of the Patients Who "Talk and Deteriorate" as a Result of Delayed Traumatic Intracerebral Hematomas

During a six-year period, 15 cases of "Talk and Deteriorate"patients who were suffering from delayed traumatic intracerebral hematoma(DTICH) were found retrospectively among 1055 patients with head injuries. All fifteen had suffered initial mild head injury(GCS score, 13-15), and apoplectic events or progressive neurological deficits(GCS<8) requiring surgical intervention developed within 72 hours. Subsequent CT scanning showed worsening of the original contusional lesion in ten cases, new hematoma in six, and new lesion(contusion, ischemia and/or edema) in five. cases. The most common location of DTICH was the frontal lobe(11 cases) and the most common cause of injury was a fall(10 cases). The condition of most of these patients could not be predicted, and there was no clear evidence of secondary insults such as hypoxia, hypotension, anemia, or hypercarbia, but hyperglycemia and coagulopathy were seen. Our results demonstrated that in spite of an initially high GCS score, patients who had been injured during a fall and on initial CT scan showed frontal lobe hemorrhagic contusion and/or swelling should be observed closely for at least three days after the injury. Among patients in the "Talk and Deteriorate"group whose condition was caused by DTICH, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment may be the most important life-saving management strategy.

Clinical Study on 22 Cases of Delayed Traumatic Intracerebral Hematoma

The authors studied 22 patients with delayed traumatic intracerebral hematoma (DTICH) who had been admitted to Hanyang University Hospital from March 1987 to February 1988. The results of the study were summerized as follows : 1) DTICH occurred most frequently on frontal and temporal lobe and closely associated with contusion of the brain at initial brain computed tomographic scan. 2) 20 cases of DTICH discovered within 10 days after trauma and remained 2 cases occurred at 20 day and 30 day, respectively. 3) The prognosis of DTICH was mostly affected by the neurological status at admission and good results of the surgery was obtained from the patients operated within 48 hours. 4) It was though that closed observation of the neurological status, repeated computed tomographic scanning and prevention of the systemic insults such as hypoxia and hemorrhagic shock would be improved the clinical outcome of the DTICH.

Traumatic Intracerebral Hematoma

During a 36-month period, clinical outcome in 170 patients with traumatic intracerebral hematoma(TICH) was analysed. These patients represented 5.1% of 3328 consecutive patients with head injuries admitted to the Soonchunhyang University Chunan Hospital. The overall mortality was 33.5%. A significant number of patients(52.6%), who were not comators at the time of admission(GCS0.005) ; 2) the presence of associated lesions(p>0.01) ; 3) time delay of two hours or more from admission to operation(p>0.05) ; 4) actual midline shift of 4.5mm or above on initial CT scan(p>0.005) ; 5) obliteration of suprasellar cistern(p>0.005) ; 6) the presence of delayed traumatic intracerebral hematoma(DTICH) in non-surgical patients with GCS score of 8 or above(p>0.01). Age and location of hematoma did not affect outcome, but the patients with multiple located hematoma showed higher mortality than the others. Time delay in the treatment of TICH and DTICH contribute significantly to poor outocme. Rapidly progressive DTICH within 48 hours after trauma is high in mortality. Follow-up CT scan might as well be performed till 48 hours after injury and 8 hours after initial operation, even though neurological status did not alter for the worse.

The Value of Early Diagnosis in the Management and the Prognosis of Delayed Traumatic Intracerebral Hematoma

Ten cases of delayed traumatic intracerebral hematomas(DTICH) were found retrospectively among 129 patients with traumatic intracranial hematoma in about 3-year period. The interval from cranial injury to diagnosis of DTICH varied from 1 day to 13 day. The diagnosis was made on repeat computerized tomographic(CT) scans, obtained following neurological deterioration, lack of improvement and/or increase of intracranial pressure(ICP). For early diagnosis of DTICH, continuous ICP monitoring was more effective than routinely repeating CT scan and neurological observation. To analyse the factors influencing the prognosis, we divided DTICH into four groups by initial CT findings:Group I, one case, had negative CT scan on admission. In group II, two cases, an area of parenchymal contusion was noted on the initial CT scan with DTICH subsequently developing in the contused region. In group III, six cases, the initial CT scan showed intracranial hematoma and prior surgical management was done on admission. Group IV, one case, showed generalized brain edema. The prognoses of group III and IV were poorer than those of group I and II. The overall mortality was about 20%. We also discussed the pathogenesis and prognostic factors of DTICH in light of pertinent literatures.