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.

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.

Prognostic Effects of 4th Ventricular Hemorrhage in Intraventricular Hemorhage

Intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH) from any source is generally considered to be of grave prognostic significance. However, little is known about the prognostic effect of fourth IVH. The analysis of 65 patients with computerized tomography(CT)-documented fourth IVH treated between 1990 and 1994 is here in presented. The etiologies of the studied fourth IVH include hypertensive intracranial hemorrhage(39 cases), spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage(12 cases), primary IVH(9 cases), trauma(4 cases), Moyamoya disease(1 case). A 66.7% mortality rate was found in patients with a Glasgow coma scale(GCS) score of 3 to 5, 53.8% for those with a GCS score of 6 to 8, 28.6% for those patients with a GCS score of 9 to 12, and 9.5% for patients with a GCS score of 13 to 15. Admission status was significant outcome predictor(p<0.001). The mortality rate for patients with dilatation and fixed pupil was 64.7%. Pupillary reflex was also used as an outcome predictor(p<0.05). The mortality rate of patients with hemorrhagic dilatati on of the fourth ventricle was 70% while those with no hemorrhagic dilatation of the fourth ventricle was 28.9%. Hemorrhagic dilatation of the fourth ventricle was a potent predictor of outcome in fourth IVH(p<0.005). The mortality rate of patients with a ventriculocranial ratio(VCR) of 0.23 or more than 0.23, as calculated from initial CT scan, was 76.5% and those with a VCR of less than 0.16 was 26.7%. We have found that VCR is a potent prodictor of outcome in fourth IVH(p<0.005). The prognostic values of age, etiology of fourth IVH, lood pressure, the number of ventricle of hemorrhage presenting was found to be statistically insignificant. Patients with all ventricular hemorrhage and urokinase irrigation have a 64.5% mortality rate. Patients with fourth IVH and hemorrhagic dilatation of fourth ventricle, increased VCR, poor admission status, dilatation and fixed pupil are considered poor prognosis. Urokinase irrigation was the recommended management for these patients.

Streotactic Evacuation and Urokinase Irrigation in the Management of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

The best treatment modality of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma is still controversial. But stereotactic surgery can minimize the brain damage and be performed under local anesthesia. Recently we experienced 46 cases of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma which were operated using ZD(Zamorano-Dujovny) stereotactic system and urokinase irrigation from November 1990 to April 1993. Before operation, computerized tomographic scanning was done to locate the hematoma, assess the amount, and to determine the stereotactic coordinates. The silastic tube was inserted after stereotactic evacuation of hematoma and urokinase irrigation was repeated every 6 to 8 hours until the hematoma was cleared up. The results were analysed and we concluded that we can substitute open craniectomy or conservative treatment for stereotactic evacuation of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma combined with urokinase irrigation in certain instances and can minimize the brain damage regardless the patient's general condition or past history.

The Surgical Results of C-T Guided Stereotactic Early Aspiration with Urokinase Irrigation on Deep Seated Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

C-T guided stereotactic early burr hole aspirations performed on 106 spontaneous deep intracerebral hematoma patients in the Department of Neurosurgery, Kyungpook University Hospital, between January 1992 and December 1993. For average five days following the operation, continual urokinase(UK) irrigation was done for complete removal of the remaining hematoma. Of the patients, 73 who were operated on within three days of bleeding ictus were chosen for analyses and evaluation by factors believed to affect the final results. Eighty six percent was found to have hypertension as it's cause. The hematoma was removed completely in 13.7% of all the patients on post operation 1st day and 45% within 7 days by urokinase irrigation. The site of hematoma in thalamocapsulo-lenticular area showed a rather poor remission rate compared with those in other locations along with a higher mortality rate. By comparison between the time of admission and discharge, the state of consciousness of patients showed much improvement with 440% of the number of alert patients on discharge:motor function also showed significant improvement with 450% good patients number. In case of poor state of consciousness or motor function on admission, the mortality rate was higher. Rebleeding after aspiration was found in 6.8% and in all the cases except one the operation was done within 24 hours of bleeding, which resulted in poor postoperative outcome without improvement. Pneumonia was most common complication during admission followed by hydrocephalus. Mortality rate was 8.2%, most of which resulted from direct brain damage through bleeding. This surgical method is simple, safe and efficient in treating spontaneous deep intracerebral hematoma with no significant outcome difference when compared with early craniotomy.

Clinical Analysis of the Effect of the Continuous External Ventricular Drainage with Urokinase Irrigation for the Treatment of Intraventricular Hemorrhage

The mortality and morbidity of the intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH) has been decreased since the introduction of external ventricular drainage(EVD) and direct intraventricular infusion of urokinase as an effective therapeutic method. In 1989, we already reported a series of 54 cases of IVH treated with simple EVD or EVD with urokinase irrigation in a few cases. Authors analyzed again a series of 50 cases of IVH treated by EVD with direct intraventricular urokinase irrigation after the pervious report. The mortality rate was 55.5% in former occasion, however 18% in this study and the complications were considerably low. We experienced again that the EVD with urokinase irrigation is an effective method and convenient, simple technique in the management of IVH even though there is no ICP monitoring. So we prefer EVD with urokinase irrigation therapy in managing the IVH even if the patient is moribund state.

Clinical analysis of Stereotactic Aspiration in Basal Ganglia Hematoma

We analyzed 54 cases of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma in the basal ganglia who had been admitted to Pusan National Hospital from June, 1991 to December, 1992 and underwent CT-guided stereotactic aspiration. Fifity four cases had basal ganglia hematoma with or without ventricular rupture. In 12 cases out of them, the residual hematoma could be completely evacuated by urokinase irrigation through a catheter introduced into the cavity of hematoma. Patients with preoperatively poor neurologic condition, large or deep-seated hematoma, or the operation undergone before 6 hours from ictus, had worse outcome. In the case whose hematoma was removed more than 60%, Glasgow Outome Scales were not changed significantly. Patients of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma mostly are older age, so careful observation and medical treatment are required to prevent postoperative complications and improve general condition.

Stereotactic Management of Spontaneous Infratenorial Hemorrhage: Part I:Stereotactic Evacuation and Gradual Urokinase Irigation for Spontaneous Brain Stem Hemorrhage

In spontaneous brain stem hemorrhage, efforts are being made to treat the hemorrhage by means of active medical treatment of intricate suboccipital craniectomy. But these efforts are still unsatisfactory in decreasing the high mortality and morbidity. Our recent efforts have got good results in the 11 cases of brain stem hemorrhage by removing the hemorrhage through the application of R.R.W. stereotactic system and gradual urokinase irrigation. The residual hemorrhage following the initial aspiration was completely evacuated by gradual urokinase irrigation through stereotactically placed catheter. Also this catheter was used for monitoring of intrahematomal intracranial pressure for an early stoppage of the increased intracranial pressure or early detecting of rebleeding. This kind of stereotactic evacuation and gradual irrigation with urokinase could remove the brain stem hemorrhage accurately and easily in a short time under the local anesthesia. Mean-while the normal brain tissue is subjected to less surgical trauma by this procedure, which can be interpreted as having a wide indication, a definite advantage, with a low mortality of 27.3%.

Stereotactic Management of Spontaneous Infratenorial Hemorrhage: Part II: Transtentorial Stereotactic Approach for Spontaneous Intracerebellar Hemorrhage

The Brown-Robert-Wells(BRW) stereotactic system has many advantages in the supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH), but is has less accessibility to the spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage by stereotactic suboccipital approach. To overcome this disadvantage, we have tried to treat stereotactically three patients of spontaneous intracerebellar hemorrhage through tentorium using BRW stereotaxis and gradual irrigation wth urokinase(UK). This new approach has been used successfully under the local anesthesia with satisfactory postoperative neurological results. We present a detailed technique of this approach.