Comparative Clinical Analysis of Surgical and Conservative Treatment for Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

ABSTRACT

Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) is one of the leading causes of death in Korea. However, there are too many controversies regarding the pathogenesis and proper management of this disease. The author investigated the role of surgical treatment in improving the outcome of hypertensive ICH by analyzing the results of surgical and conservative therapy performed in 339 patients with hypertensive ICH during the past 8 years from 1986 to 1993. The peak age incidence of patients with hypertensive ICH was in the sixth decade(29.2%), and 88.5% of the cases occurred after the fifth decade. There was no sexual preponderance. Winter was the most prevalent season. Location of the hemorrhage was putamen in 9.2%, thalamus in 23.6%, lobular in 14.5%, cerebellum in 11.2%, caudate nucleus in 5.9%, and brain stem in 4.7%. The Glasgow coma scale(GCS) on admission was 3-5 in 17.7%, 6-8 in 2.4%, 9-12 in 20.1%, and 13-15 in 39.8%. Surgery was performed in 127 patients(37.5%) and the remaining patients were treated conservatively. The surgery rate was the highest(52.7%) for patients with 6-8 GCS, and the volume of hemorrhage was 0-45 cc. The outcome of all patients at discharge was graded as good recovery in 24.2%, moderate disability in 33.0%, severe disability in 11.8%, vegetative state in 8.6% and death in 22.4%. The mortality rate was 42.7% for patients with a 3-8 GCS, 23.5% for 9-12 GCS, and 1.5% for 13-15 GCS. The mortality rate was 9.2% in cases with a hemorrhage volume of less than 15cc, while in those over 60cc, the mortality rate was 75%. The results of surgical and conservative treatment were compared in each subgroups because the method of treatment differed according to the GCS and the volume of hemorrhage. When the GCS was less than 8, and when the hemorrhage volume was over 30cc, better results were obtained with surgery than with of conservative management(P<0.025, P<0.01, respectively).