Keyhole Approach Endoscopic Surgery versus Stereotactic Aspiration plus Urokinase in Treating Basal Ganglia Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage / 中国医学科学院学报

To compare the short-and long-term effect of two minimal invasive surgical therapies including keyhole approach endoscopic surgery(KAES)and stereotactic aspiration plus urokinase(SAU)in treating basal ganglia hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage(hICH). The clinical data of 117 hICH patients(63 received KAES and 54 received SAU)were retrospectively analyzed.The operation time,blood loss during surgery,and drainage time were compared between two groups.The residual hematoma volume,hematoma clearance rate(HCR),Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score were recorded at baseline and in the ultra-early stage,early stage,and sub-early stage after surgery.The 30-day mortality and serious adverse events were assessed and the 6-month modified Rankin scale(mRS)score was rated. Baseline data showed no significant difference between these two groups.Compared with the SAU group,the KAES group had significantly longer operation time,more intraoperative blood loss,and shorter drainage time(all 0.05).In the ultra-early and early stage,the GCS and NIHSS scores showed no significant differences between two groups(all >0.05),whereas in the sub-early stage,the NIHSS score was better in the SAU group(=0.034).The 30-day mortality and incidences of serious adverse events showed no significant difference(all >0.05).The good recovery(mRS≤3)at 6-months follow-up showed no significant difference between the two groups(=0.413). Both KAES and SAU are safe and effective in treating basal ganglia hICH.In the ultra-early stage after surgery,KAES achieves better residual hematoma volume and HCR,and patients undergoing SAU quickly catch up.The short-and long-term effectiveness of SAU is comparable or even superior to KAES.

A Less Invasive Strategy for Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysms with Intracerebral Hematomas: Endovascular Coil Embolization Followed by Stereotactic Aspiration of Hematomas Using Urokinase

OBJECTIVE: Aneurysm clipping and simultaneous hematoma evacuation through open craniotomy is traditionally recommended for ruptured cerebral aneurysms accompanied by intracerebral or intrasylvian hemorrhages. We report our experience of adapting a less invasive treatment strategy in poor-grade patients with intracerebral or intrasylvian hemorrhages associated with ruptured cerebral aneurysms, where the associated ruptured cerebral aneurysms were managed by endovascular coil embolization, followed by stereotactic aspiration of hematomas (SRH) using urokinase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 112 patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. There were accompanying intracerebral or intrasylvian hemorrhages in 36 patients (32.1%). The most common site for these ruptured aneurysms was the middle cerebral artery (MCA) (n = 15; 41.6%). Endovascular coil embolization followed by SRH using urokinase was performed in 9 patients (25%). RESULTS: In these 9 patients, the most common site of aneurysms was the MCA (n = 3; 33.4%); the hematoma volume ranged from 19.24 to 61.68 mL. Four patients who were World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) grade-IV on admission, achieved favorable outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Score [GOS] 4 or 5) at 6-months postoperatively. In the five patients who were WFNS grade-V on admission, one achieved a favorable outcome, whereas 4 achieved GOS scores of 2 or 3, 6-months postoperatively. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: If immediate hematoma evacuation is not mandated by clinical or radiological signs of brain herniation, a less invasive strategy, such as endovascular coil embolization followed by SRH using urokinase, may be a good alternative in poor-grade patients with intracerebral or intrasylvian hemorrhages associated with ruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Aspiración estereotáctica de una larva de Spirometra spp. / Stereotactic aspiration of Spirometra mansonides larvae

Brain sparganosis is a non-common parasite infection by Diphyllobothrium or Spirometra mansonoides larvae. This last one is responsible for most of the infestations in humans. We report a 19 years male patient bearer of a brain sparganosis. The patient presented with headache and left hemiparesis. CT diagnosis of right thalamic lesions was made and aspiration biopsy was performed using stereotactic system, obtaining a whole and death larvae. Histopathology confirms a CNS parasitism and it was treated initially with albendazol. ELISA test confirmed Spirometra spp. infestation. The patient developed asymptomatic with total remission of the lesions. It constitutes the second report in Cuba of brain sparganosis.

Se presenta el caso clínico de un varón con 19 años de edad y el diagnóstico de una esparganosis cerebral. Consultó por cefalea y una hemiparesia izquierda. En una tomografía computarizada cerebral con contraste se observaron lesiones talámicas derechas. Se realizó una biopsia cerebral guiada por estereotaxia con aspiración completa de un verme. En el estudio histopatológico se planteó un probable parasitismo de SNC y fue tratado inicialmente con albendazol. Se confirmó la infección por Spirometra spp. por test de ELISA. Evolucionó con regresión de síntomas y remisión imagenológica de las lesiones. Este caso constituye el segundo reporte en Cuba de una infestación cerebral por este parásito y aspiración estereotáctica de la larva de Spirometra spp.

Frameless Stereotactic Aspiration for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Subsequent Fibrinolysis Using Urokinase

OBJECTIVES: The optimal management of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate technical results and clinical outcomes of frameless stereotactic aspiration and fibrinolysis using urokinase performed in a single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of this study were 62 consecutive patients with spontaneous ICH who were treated with frameless stereotactic aspiration and subsequent fibrinolysis using urokinase between February 2009 and June 2010 in our hospital. The surgical results, procedure-related complications, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients were enrolled in the study. The median age was 54 years (range, 32-86). The mean initial Glasgow coma scale score was 7.7 (range 5-11). The mean initial hemorrhage volume was 43 cm3 (range 30-70). Seven patients (11.2%) died of respiratory failure (four patients), postoperative edema (two patients), and heart disease (one patient). There were seven cases of procedure-related complications (11.2%), including malpositioning of catheters (two patients), pneumocephalus (one patient), and rebleeding (four patients, 6.4%). At the three-month follow-up, a good outcome (three-month Glasgow outcome scale > 3) was noted in 32 patients (51.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Frameless stereotactic aspiration and subsequent fibrinolytic thearpy using urokinase for spontaneous ICH is a simple and safe procedure with low mortality and rebleeding rate.

Stereotactic Multiplanar Reformatted Computed Tomography-Guided Catheter Placement and Thrombolysis of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hematomas

OBJECTIVE: The authors present their experiences with stereotactic multiplanar reformatted (MPR) computed tomography (CT)-guided catheter placement for thrombolysis of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma (sICH) and their clinical results. METHODS: In 23 patients with sICH, MPR CT-guided catheter placement was used to select the trajectory and target point of hematoma drainage. This group was comprised of 11 men and 12 women, and the mean age was 57.5 years (range, 31-79 years). The patients' initial Glasgow Coma Scale scores ranged from 7 to 15 with a median of 11. The volume of the hematoma ranged from 24 mL to 86 mL (mean 44.5 mL). A trajectory along the main axis of the hematoma was considered to be optimal for thrombolytic therapy. The trajectory was calculated from the point of entry through the target point of the hematoma using reformatted images. RESULTS: The hematoma catheter was left in place for a median duration of 48.9 hours (range 34 to 62 hours). In an average of two days, the average residual hematoma volume was 6.2 mL (range 1.4 mL to 10.2 mL) and was reduced by an average of 84.7% (range 71.6% to 96.3%). The residual hematoma at postoperative seven days was less than 5 mL in all patients. There was no treatment-related death during hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that stereotactic MPR CT-guided catheter placement for thrombolysis is an accurate and safe procedure. We suggest that this procedure for stereotactic removal of sICH should be considered for the optimization of the trajectory selection in the future.

Coil Embolization of Aneurysm Followed by Stereotactic Aspiration of Hematoma in a Patient with Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm Presenting with SAH and ICH

Even though intracerebral hematoma (ICH) due to ruptured cerebral aneurysm has been treated by aneurysm clipping at the same time of removal of ICH through craniotomy, such management strategy is controversial in an aged patients with poor clinical grade. In this regards, stereotactic aspiration of hematoma following coil embolization can be an alternative treatment modality. Thus, the authors report a case of an aged patient who underwent stereotactic aspiration of ICH following coil embolization for the ruptured aneurysm with a brief review of literature.

Clinical Features and Surgical Treatment of Bacterial Brain Abscess

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to review the clinical characteristics and operative results of brain abscess in order to define the therapeutic strategy for this disease. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and radiology images of brain abscess patients treated in our hospital during the last 16 years. A total of 35 cases included 23 males and 12 females, with the mean age of 48 years old. We excluded cases of postoperative, post traumatic, and fungal abscess. All patient underwent at least one surgical treatment such as stereotactic aspiration or craniotomy with excision. RESULTS: Twenty seven (77.1%) patients presented with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. The frontal lobe was the most common anatomical place, and streptococcal species were the most frequently encountered pathogens. The chronic pulmonary diseases and chronic otitis media are common underlying condition. Eighteen patients underwent stereotactic aspiration and 17 patients had excision of their abscess as an initial treatment. Seven patients had a repeated surgery, 6 of them had been treated with aspiration initially. At discharge, 60.0% patients showed a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: The stereotactic drainage would be more suitable for the brain abscess located in deep and eloquent area. A large, solitary, and well-encapsulated lesion of superficial location could be best treated with complete excision, and this procedure was more definite because it is associated with less repeated surgery and showed more favorable outcome compared to aspiration surgery.

Navigation-assisted Aspiration and Thrombolysis of Deep Intracerebral Hemorrhage / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Frame-based stereotatic catheter placement and subsequent thrombolysis is one treatment option for the management of a deep intracerebral hemorrhage. Recently, frameless stereotactic surgery with a navigation system has been introduced to reduce the hematoma volume. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of frameless stereotactic ICH catheterization using a navigation system. METHODS: From January 2006 to November 2006, we identified 27 patients who were diagnosed with deep ICH and underwent navigationassisted frameless stereotactic catheter insertion with/without thrombolysis by urokinase irrigation. RESULTS: The mean length between the center of the hematoma and the tip of the catheter was 6.8 mm (range between 0 and 15 mm). The catheter tip and target matched in 8 patients (29.6%). In cases of an inappropriately located catheter tip (70.4%), most of the hematomas were thalamic in location due to the long trajectory (9 of 10 thalamic locations). The preoperative hematoma volume showed a statistically significant correlation with the final hematoma volume. There was no mortality reported. Multiple regression analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the initial Glasgow coma scale score and the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Navigation-assisted frameless stereotactic ICH catheterization has limited accuracy but is effective in reducing the ICH volume reduction.

Stereotactic Aspiration and Drainage on a Patient with Large Lobar Hemorrhage and Brain Herniation A Case Report / 国际脑血管病杂志

A 43-year-old man was diagnosed as massive left occipital lobe hemorrhage with the hematoma expanded into the entire ventricular system. On admission, he was in deep coma with clinical signs of brain herniation and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 4. Vascular malformations were highly suspected since he was young with no history of hypertension. Considering the life-threatening situation, open craniotomy and hematoma evacuation was proposed as the first therapeutic option, but this was refused by his family members for non-medical reasons. In order to save his life, stereotactic aspiration was suggested again and was accepted. UK at an aggressive dosage of 50 000 IU was administered during and after the surgical procedure for 5 days. One month later, this patient gained an excellent recovery with a Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score of 5.

Feasibility, Safety and Prognostic Factors for Computed Tomography Guided Aspiration and Thrombolysis of Intracerebral Hematoma - Clinical Analysis - / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The authors reviewed experience with patients harboring intracerebral hematoma (ICH) treated by stereotactic computed tomography (CT) guided thrombolysis and aspiration and evaluated feasibility, safety and prognostic factors of this procedure. METHODS: One hundred and ten patients with supratentorial ICH >25 ml without underlying structural etiology or coagulopathy were recruited. The patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) or =4) and bad (GOS<4) prognosis group, and performed comparative analysis between two groups. RESULTS: Mean age was 59.8 years. The baseline hematoma size ranged from 15 to 72 mL. ICH volume reduced by an average of 74.2%. At 6 months after the procedure, 56 patients had achieved a good recovery, 29 patients were dependent, and 10 remained vegetative. Fifteen patients died in hospital. The main good prognostic factors were young age, small ICH volume, high GCS, absence of rebleeding, underlying disease and complications. CONCLUSION: CT-guided thrombolysis and aspiration appears safe and effective in the reduction of ICH volume. Patients of ICH presenting with bad prognostic factors should require frequent radiological investigation and more meticulous procedure. Further studies are needed to assess optimal thrombolytic dosage and must include controlled comparisons of mortality, and disability outcome.

Clinical Analysis of Stereotactic Aspiration and Conservative Management in Spontaneous Thalamic Hematoma

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to review our experience with spontaneous thalamic hemorrhage. Clinical outcome of patients was brought about by comparing stereotactic aspiration and conservative medical therapy. METHODS: The study consists of seventy-three cases with spontaneous thalamic hemorrhage which were treated from the period of Jan. 1993 to Dec. 1999. Thirty-eighty patients were treated with computed tomography (CT) guided stereotactic aspiration and thirty-five patients were treated conservatively. We compared the factors affecting treatment and the factors are as follows: age and sex, conscious level on admission, hematoma volume, hematoma sites, presence of ventricular penetration. RESULTS: The results in the thirty eight stereotactic aspirated cases for the 6 months from oneset are as follows: good recovery or moderate disability in 43%, severe disability in 32%, vegitative state in 11%, dead in 13% respectively. The clinical result was more favorable in stereotactic aspiration, with 11-30cc hematoma volume, extend to internal capsule of hematoma, poor conscious level on admission than conservative medical therapy. But age and sex, conscious level on admission, presence of ventricular penetration were not influential in the statistical outcome between stereotactic aspiration and conservative medical therapy. CONCLUSION: Treatment modality of spontaneous thalamic hemorrhage is still controversial. But stereotactic aspiration is more recommended for improvement therapeutic results than conservative treatment or open craniotomy in case of 11-30cc hematoma volume, extend to internal capsule of hematoma and poor conscious level on admission.

Ependymal Cysts

The authors report four cases of ependymal cysts. Among the benign cystic lesions of neuroepithelial origin, ependymal cysts have been reportedly located in the cerebral parenchyme. This usually become symptomatic after 40 years of age, although it is generally thought to be congenital in origin. Symptomatic cases have been treated effectively with resection of the cyst or shunting procedures. Stereotactic removal of the cyst was also a good alternative as management in the authors' cases. Differential diagnosis is mandatory with other benign intraparenchymal cystic diseases.

Analysis on Surgical Outcome of Brain Abscess

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to review the mortality, complications, risk factors and the surgical outcome in long-term follow-up cases of brain abscess. METHODS: The authors studied medical records and radiological findings in patients with brain abscess who underwent operations in our hospital from 1990 to 1997. RESULTS: There were 44 cases and the ratio of male to female was 32:12 which shows predominance in male. The ages of patients ranged from 2 to 73(average: 40). Lesions were located at frontal lobe in 16 cases, temporal in 8, parietal in 7, occipital in 5, cerebellum in 6, and multiple in 2. The ranges of follow-up periods were from 1 month to 96 months(average: 20.5 months). The primary origins of infection were found in only 15 cases(34%) and in 32 cases(73%), the organisms were identified from culture. The operative modalities were as follows; abscess aspiration (stereotactic or sono-guided) in 42 times and abscess excision in 13 times. There were 2 operations in 7 cases and 3 in 2 cases. In 2 cases, recurrences were occurred during antibiotics therapy after first operation. Three patients(6.8%) died due to sepsis in 2 cases, increased intracranial pressure in 1 case. We analysed 19 cases who were followed-up more than 12 months. In this group, there were intermittent seizures in 2 cases, antibiotics(metronidazole) induced polyneuropathy in 1 case, and avascular necrosis of hip in 2 cases which were suspected to have relation to long-term high dose steroid therapy. But there were no other sequalae or neurological deficits. CONCLUSION: The complication rate from long-term follow-up was high(26%) but the mortality rate was low(6.8%). Additionally, the findings such as multiple lesions, empyema, and fungal infection are suspected to be risk factors in mortality cases.

Brain Abscess Associated with Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Case Report

We had experienced a case of hematogenous brain abscess which occurred at the site of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. The 41-year-old patient was admitted with sponetaneous intracerebral hemorrhage on left basal ganglia and sepsis. Brain abscess was incidentally detected by stereotactic aspiration of intracerebral hemorrhage, followed by the gram staining and culture of aspirated material.

Tuberculous Brain Abscess: A Case Report

Tuberculous brain abscess is a rare form of the central nervous system tuberculosis. Clinical characteristics of the tuberculous brain abscess are symptoms and signs of intracranial hypertension rather than meningeal irritation. A 23-year-old man presented with headache and vomiting for 4 months. Neurological examination revealed mild left hemiparesis. Chest X-rays showed a large tuberculous cavity in the right upper lobe. Brain computed tomography scan revealed multiple ring enhancing cystic masses with marked edema and midline shift in the deep right temporo-occipital lobe. Without symptomatic relief with several months of antituberculous medication, the patient was subjected to stereotactic aspiration of the mass. Persistence of the abscess on postoperative CT scan rendered him to undergo right temporo-occipital craniotomy with removal of the remaining nodular mass. Follow up brain CT showed no residual abscess. He was discharged with no neurologic deficit. Having experienced this rare case with review on relevant literaturs, the authors suggest excision of the abscess cavity plays an important role to eradicate intracranial tuberculous abscess.

The Clinical Analysis of Stereotactic Aspiration of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

To date no consensus has been reached regarding the suitability of surgical treatment for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, especially in deep seated cases. With the recent introduction of an alternative to conservative therapy, craniotomy or stereotactic aspiration, it has become even more difficult to determine which therapeutic approaches should be used. We used stereotactic aspiration technique under a local anesthesia instead of craniotomy to treat 48 patients, because we believe that better therapeutic results could be obtained by minimal invasion to the brain. In present study, we analysed the level of consciousness and clinical outcome, location and volume of hematoma, interval of operation from ictus, and rate of hematoma removal. Our series consist of 18 males and 30 females. The most prevalent age group of intracerebral hemorrhage patients were the 6th decades. The hematoma were located at basal ganglia in 75%, thalamus in 15%, pons in 8%, and lobar 2%. The prognosis was favorable in patients with good neurological grade at admission, but was unfavorable in those with large volume although the statistical difference was not significant. Rate of hematoma removal was high in the cases where operations performed after 4 days. The statistical difference between the time interval from hemorrhage to operation and prognosis was not significant. The overall mortality rate was 17%. These results seem to indicate that stereotactic aspiration may play a comparable indices in the treatment of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Correlation beteween Motor Disturbance and Involvement of the Internal Capsule in Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

The treatment of patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is still controversial. Fifty-two cases with hypertensive thalamic or putaminal hemorrhage were classified into three groups on the basis of the location of the hematoma in the internal capsule on eht CT image. All the cases were confined to the anterior(Type A, 17 cases)., posterior(Type P, 25 cases) and mixed portion(Type M, 10 cases) of the posterior limb of the internal capsule, and were assigned to receive medical treatment, extraventricular drainage(EVD), or stereotactic aspiration using urokinase. This study was designed to assess the correlation between hematoma extension and the severity of motor disturbance in patients treated with stereotactic aspiration. The severity of motor weakness was found not to be related to hematoma extension, but the prognosis was frequently poor in type P and type M. The outcome was better in the stereotactic aspiration group, as compared with medical and EVD groups, especially when the hematoma was located at the posterior portion of the posterior limb of the internal capsule(p<0.05). The study suggests that stereotactic aspiration may improve the outcome of hypertensive ICH with severe motor weakness, even if the hematoma is small.

A Case of Thalamic Abscess: Case Report

The authors report a rare case of thalamic abscess in a 38-year old male who suffered from a ventricular septal defect. Preoperative axial magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) showed two ring enhancing masses on T1-weighted image and a hypointensity of dark rim on T2-weighted image. Purulent material was aspirated by computerized tomography(CT)-guided stereotactic procedure following antibiotic therapy for 3 days. No growth was obtained in the culture of the purulent material. The disturbance of left ocular movement before surgery was completely recovered. Even though the abscess wall is uniform in thickness, it is difficult to distinguish from tumor. A rim like hypointensity surrounding the mass on T2-weighted MRI is helpful in distinguishing both lesions.

A Case of Thalamic Abscess: Case Report

The authors report a rare case of thalamic abscess in a 38-year old male who suffered from a ventricular septal defect. Preoperative axial magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) showed two ring enhancing masses on T1-weighted image and a hypointensity of dark rim on T2-weighted image. Purulent material was aspirated by computerized tomography(CT)-guided stereotactic procedure following antibiotic therapy for 3 days. No growth was obtained in the culture of the purulent material. The disturbance of left ocular movement before surgery was completely recovered. Even though the abscess wall is uniform in thickness, it is difficult to distinguish from tumor. A rim like hypointensity surrounding the mass on T2-weighted MRI is helpful in distinguishing both lesions.

Clinical Analysis of Stereotactic aspiration in the Management of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

The best treatment modality for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is still controversial. But stereotactic surgery can minimize the brain damage and can be performed safely and simply under local anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to analyse and evaluate the therapeutic result of stereotactic aspiration of hematoma and urokinase irrigation in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Consecutively, 33 cases of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to Chung Buk National University Hospital from May, 1991 to January, 1995 and underwent stereotactic aspiration and urokinase irrigation were analysed and evaluated by factors believed to affect the final results. The results of this analysis suggest that stereotactic aspiration and urokinase irrigation is safe and efficient in treating spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage with similar outcome but lower mortality compared with traditional craniotomy ; and we can substitute traditional open craniotomy or conservative treatment for stereotactic aspiration combined with urokinase irrigation.