Stereotaxic Evacuation of Brain Stem Hemorrhage

ABSTRACT

Usually cases of brain stem hemorrhage reveal high mortality and poor prognosis in spite of meticulous medical or surgical treatment. Recently we experienced stereotaxic evacuation of brain stem hemorrhage with Brown-Robert-Wells(B.R.W.) system in four cases. If there were residual hemorrhage after initial aspiration, those were evacuated with Urokinase irrigation via stereotaxically placed catheter in the hematoma. The entry point of our operation get on the crossing point of midpupillary line and 1cm behind coronal structure. Preliminary results: 1) Volume of removed hematoma 5ml(average). 2) Dates of urokinase irrigation 2 to 4 days after operation. 3) No hydrocephalus, no surgical mortality. 4) Average Glasgow coma scale was improved from 6 in preoperative state to 12 in postoperative state. 5) Operation was performed within 24 hours. 6) Advantages of our procedure. (1) Accurate, simple and safe. (2) Under local anesthesia. (3) Less traumatic procedure. (4) Could remove hematoma completely with Urokinase.