Conservative treatment of post-traumatic intracerebral hematoma

Out of 184 patients with posttraumatic intracerebral haematomas 52 were treated conservatively. For this treatment patients were qualified with good consciousness level, in the range of 13-15 GCS score. Presence of massive neurological deficit was not an indication to treatment. Patients with haematomas in the central zone, with multiple haematomas or with contraindications to operation were treated conservatively. Eight patients died (15%), in 2 of them severe brain trauma with multiple haematomas were the cause of death, in 1 case primary brainstem trauma was present, one patient had deeply situated haematoma of the thalamus and ventricular system, and in 4 cases death was due to non-cerebral causes. The size of the haematoma in CT scan was not decisive for the choice of the treatment. Nearly in all cases compression of the ventricular system was present, but in only some cases the ventricles were shifted. In repeated CT scans resorption of the haematomas was observed. Twenty patients were discharged home in good general condition without serious neurological deficit. Twenty-four patients were treated later on in other hospital departments. Later outpatient control examinations showed that even serious neurological deficits regressed in most cases. The main symptoms were those of the post-trauma syndrome. About 25% of patients had epileptic seizures after the treatment. The author believes that if the patient is conscious and his consciousness is not worsening conservative treatment of intracerebral haematomas may be undertaken with good effects, on condition, however, of the availability of immediate surgical intervention if the condition of the patient is deteriorating.     

Conservative treatment of intracranial hematomas and the dynamics of their resorption

In 10 out of 63 patients with intracerebral haematomas treated conservatively the authors measured approximately the volume of haematomas by means of serial CT examinations during observation of their resorption. These were large and medium-size haematomas, from 20 to 70 ml in volume. The mean rate of resorption was from 0.7 to 1.0 ml daily. Gradual regression of mass effects was noted. All patients were on admission in a relatively good condition, conscious or only somnolent, with focal neurological signs. In some cases signs of increased intracranial pressure were present. Improvement of the general condition and neurological status was relatively rapid, even pronounced paresis and aphasia regressed in most cases. Two patients (3%) died of non-cerebral causes. It is believed that most intracerebral haematomas may be treated conservatively. The presence of mass effects, increased intracranial pressure or even a major neurological syndrome are not regarded as indications to operation if the state of consciousness is good and is not deteriorating. Even large and deeply situated haematomas may be resorbed without leaving a gross neurological deficit. A careful observation of the state of the patient, control CT investigations and the possibility of carrying out emergency operation in case of deterioration of the level of consciousness are indispensable for safe conservative treatment of these patients.     

Conservative treatment of selected cases of chronic paracerebral hematoma

The authors report an analysis of the course of 16 cases treated conservatively for paracerebral haematomas. The diagnosis was based on angiographic findings of computerized tomography (CT). Haematoma resorption was confirmed by CT. The follow-up was from 3 months to 6 years. The patients were in a general good condition without or with only transient signs of focal central nervous system damage, the thickness of the haematomas was never over 15 mm. In all cases the haematomas were resorbed, 15 patients feel well and lead an active life, in one case signs of organic brain injury developed connected with dilatation of the ventricular system and cortico-subcortical atrophy. In the light of the observed material and a literature review criteria are suggested which could indicate expected good effects of conservative treatment in such cases.     

Intracranial haematomas following bone marrow transplantation

Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is a known grave complication of leukaemia and has been described post mortem following bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Ante mortem following BMT, the incidence and significance of ICH is not well defined. The records of 471 bone marrow transplantation recipients over 11 years at the Hadassah University Hospital Bone Marrow Transplantation Department were reviewed. The relevant data of all patients with ICH were analysed. A resolute diagnostic and treatment protocol for subdural haematomas had been employed. The indication for transplantation in 273 of the patients was leukaemia. Thirteen of these patients developed subdural haematomas within 42 days of the transplant, and nine of these haematomas were bilateral. None of the 198 patients with other malignancies or nonmalignant indications for BMT (predominantly aplastic anaemia and beta thalassaemia major) had subdural haematomas. One thalassaemia patient and three leukaemia patients had intracerebral haematomas. There was no mortality or major morbidity from the subdural haematomas, which were all successfully resolved. In contrast, all of the patients with intracerebral haematomas consequently died. Subdural haematomas occur in approximately 5% of patients with leukaemia following BMT, but the clinical outcome is relatively benign. Intracerebral haematomas are a sporadic, lethal complication following BMT. Subdural haematomas are probably due to multiple factors in leukaemia patients following bone marrow transplantation, prominent thrombocytopenia invariably being an important element. A determined diagnostic and treatment protocol can yield results in this potentially grave complication.     

Bilateral traumatic extradural haematomas: report of 12 cases with a review of the literature.

We are reporting 12 cases of traumatic bilateral extradural haematomas. The incidence was 4.8% of all cases of extradural haematomas. The most common site was the frontal region. CT scan examination was necessary for early diagnosis. Ten patients were operated upon while one patient was treated conservatively. Two patients died. The relevant literature is reviewed.     

Post-traumatic posterior cranial fossa hematomas from material of the Department of Neurosurgery, Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice

The location of posttraumatic haematomas in the posterior cranial fossa is rare and the correct diagnosis was difficult before the advent of CT. In the years 1976-1989 in the group of 2450 cases of craniocerebellar injuries treated in the Department of Neurosurgery, Silesian Medical Academy 24 patients had posterior fossa haematomas, but only one of them (out of 550 cases of injuries) was diagnosed without CT. In 20 cases surgical treatment was carried out with good and satisfactory results in 16 cases (80%). The authors stress the importance of early CT and surgical intervention.     

Chronic subdural hematoma: surgical treatment and results in 96 patients

Ninety-six patients with chronic subdural hematoma were treated surgically and their clinical features presented in detail. Carotid angiography gave the correct diagnosis in all patients. CT scan was performed in 38 and was diagnostic in 92.1% of the cases. The clots were removed through burr-holes or small trephines: 78 (81.3%) patients were cured, 6 (6.2%) had permanent disabilities and 12 (12.5%) died. Operative mortality was related to the degree of neurological impairment, advanced age and systemic diseases. Neurologic sequelae were mostly related to reoperations due to recurrence of the hematoma and bilateral clots, as well. Low intracranial pressure syndrome with brain collapse was seen in 3 cases and treated with lumbar injection of saline solution. The delay in diagnosis and operation as cause of bad outcome is stressed.     

颅脑CT和床旁超声在重型颅脑损伤去骨瓣减压术后监测中的应用

目的 对比分析颅脑CT和床旁超声在重型颅脑损伤去骨瓣减压术后监测中的诊断效能。方法 回顾性分析2016年3月至2018年9月行去骨板减压术治疗的140例重型颅脑损伤的临床资料,术后均行颅脑CT和床旁超声检查。结果 床旁超声脑挫裂伤、脑梗死、硬膜外血肿、硬膜下血肿、脑内血肿的检出率与颅脑CT监测无统计学差异（P>0.05）,但其总检出率明显低于颅脑CT检查（P<0.05）,诊断阳性率为88.06%。床旁超声在诊断出血量、中线位移动距离、脑室宽度绝对值、血肿大小等与颅脑CT监测无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 床旁超声在重型颅脑损伤去骨瓣减压术后监测中具有一定的优势,可在一定程度上替代颅脑CT检查,临床应用价值较高。     

Haemorrhagic complications of intracerebral cavernomas: value of MRI.

The authors report a retrospective series of 10 cases of intracerebral haematomas consecutive to cavernomas and studied with MRI. The factors that led to the MRI study were the patients' age and clinical history, the site of the haematoma, the persistence of CT images and a negative arteriography. MRI showed that the haematoma was in contact with the cavernoma in 4 cases and at a distance from it in one case. In 5 cases only the cavernoma was seen at the site of the haematoma. Three patients had multiple cavernomas. In all cases, the diagnosis of cavernoma was confirmed at surgical excision.     

Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage in acute nonlymphoblastic leukaemia: analysis of CT and autopsy findings

We studied the CT and autopsy findings in patients with symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) in acute nonlymphoblastic leukaemia (ANLL). From 1982 to 1994, 38 (20%) of 194 patients with ANLL were diagnosed as having ICH, by CT in 17 patients, by autopsy in 11 and by both examinations in 10. Intracerebral haemorrhage occurred in 30 patients. Twenty-four patients with subcortical haemorrhage were classified into three types: a single haematoma (7), clustered multifocal haematomas (11), and separated multifocal haematomas (6). Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) occurred in 22 patients; 15 with subcortical haemorrhage, 1 with subdural haemorrhage (SDH) and 6 without any other ICH. SDH was also found in 4 patients with parenchymal haemorrhage or SAH or both. Concurrent, multiple haemorrhages consisting of various combinations of intracerebral haemorrhage, SAH and SDH are characteristic of ICH in ANLL. Multiple or confluent haematomas occur preferentially in subcortical brain. Received: 7 May 1996 Received in revised form: 30 July 1996 Accepted: 26 August 1996     

Stereotactic drainage of brain abscesses

Between 1981 and 1986, 16 patients with brain abscesses underwent computed tomography (CT) guided stereotactic aspiration with (n = 5) or without (n = 11), catheter drainage. Infectious sources were found in 11 patients; 6 patients had concomitant immune suppression. Bacterial or mixed toxoplasmic-fungal or toxoplasmic-viral abscesses were diagnosed in 14 patients. After prolonged antimicrobial treatment, follow-up clinical and radiological evaluations confirmed abscess resolution in 12 patients. The abscess size was smaller in four patients, three of whom died 30-60 days after surgery due to overwhelming systemic opportunistic infections. One patient with a tuberculous brain abscess continued to exhibit gradual abscess regression one year after beginning three-drug antituberculous therapy. No surgical mortality occurred but two patients required evacuation of post-operative intracerebral haematomas that resulted from over-vigorous abscess aspiration. CT stereotactic drainage is a safe and effective technique to diagnose and treat brain abscesses and is mandatory for small or deep-seated lesions. Empirical therapy of suspected brain abscesses is rarely warranted in the era of CT stereotactic surgery.     

Stereotactic drainage of brain abscesses

Between 1981 and 1986, 16 patients with brain abscesses underwent computed tomography (CT) guided stereotactic aspiration with (n = 5) or without (n = 11), catheter drainage. Infectious sources were found in 11 patients; 6 patients had concomitant immune suppression. Bacterial or mixed toxoplasmic-fungal or toxoplasmic-viral abscesses were diagnosed in 14 patients. After prolonged antimicrobial treatment, follow-up clinical and radiological evaluations confirmed abscess resolution in 12 patients. The abscess size was smaller in four patients, three of whom died 30-60 days after surgery due to overwhelming systemic opportunistic infections. One patient with a tuberculous brain abscess continued to exhibit gradual abscess regression one year after beginning three-drug antituberculous therapy. No surgical mortality occurred but two patients required evacuation of post-operative intracerebral haematomas that resulted from over-vigorous abscess aspiration. CT stereotactic drainage is a safe and effective technique to diagnose and treat brain abscesses and is mandatory for small or deep-seated lesions. Empirical therapy of suspected brain abscesses is rarely warranted in the era of CT stereotactic surgery.     

Post-traumatic cerebellar hematomas

The authors present 16 cases of post-traumatic intracerebellar haematomas treated in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Division of Neurotraumatology, Chair of Neurosurgery, Medical Academy in Lód? in the years 1948-1987. The analysis included the type of trauma, the clinical course, the laboratory investigations and treatment methods. The following conclusions have been reached: Intracerebellar haematomas are post-traumatic complications of adult age following most frequency falls. On the basis of the clinical pattern it has not been possible to isolate a clinical syndrome characteristic for intracerebellar haematoma. A similar clinical course is observed in cases of other haematomas situated in other parts of the posterior cranial fossa. In the diagnosis of decisive importance is CT or operation. Mortality in intracerebellar haematomas is similar to that in epidural haematomas. Deaths occurred in cases operated on in acute stage. Owing to increasing availability of CT conservative treatment of intracerebellar haematomas has become possible. Follow-up shows that worse results of surgical treatment were obtained in cases of acute haematomas. In cases of chronic haematoma late results of treatment were good.     

Interobserver agreement in the assessment of lobar versus deep location of intracerebral haematomas on CT

In patients with supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), it is important to discriminate superficial (lobar) and deep (basal ganglia) location, since this has consequences for research and prognosis. Haemorrhages at these sites have different causes and different risk factors. We studied the interobserver variation between three radiologists in classifying fifty large haematomas on CT as deep or lobar. The kappa values were almost perfect, ranging from 0.88 to 0.96. We conclude that the assessment of CT by radiologist is a reliable method to discriminate between lobar versus deep origin even for large intracerebral haematomas.     

99TCm-HMPAO SPECT studies in traumatic intracerebral haematoma.

Traumatic intracerebral haematomas are a common neurosurgical emergency. Their management, particularly the role of surgical removal, is controversial. Deterioration often occurs late, and is unpredictable. Eight patients with traumatic intracerebral haematomas were admitted to the neurosurgical unit to monitor their clinical state. All were studied within 48 hours of admission with single photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT), using the recently introduced radionuclide 99Technetiumm-Hexamethyl propylene amine oxime (99Tcm-HMPAO). At the time of the SPECT study, all the patients had been clinically stable. Three patients remained so; in the other five, the conscious level deteriorated, necessitating craniotomy and evacuation of the haematoma. In all the patients, the SPECT studies demonstrated perfusion defects that corresponded to the location of the haematoma, as demonstrated by computerised tomography (CT). However, in the five patients who subsequently deteriorated, the perfusion defects seen on the SPECT scan appeared larger than the haematoma, as seen on the CT scan. In addition, there was widespread poor retention of 99Tcm-HMPAO in the ipsilateral hemisphere. These differences were quantifiable. Interestingly, these differences were present at a time when the patients were clinically stable, before their deterioration. It is concluded that SPECT studies with 99Tcm-HMPAO are of possible use as predictors of late deterioration in the management of traumatic intracerebral haematomas.     

非高血压性自发性颅内血肿54例临床分析

报告５４例非高血压性自发性颅内血肿。常见病因为血管畸形（占４４％）。ＣＴ、ＭＲＩ是最好的定位诊断方法，ＭＲＩ还可显示畸形血管，脑血管造影常可作出病因诊断。手术治疗４７例，作者主张开颅显微手术，既可以清除血肿，又有可能提供病因诊断线索，及时采取治疗措施，预防再次发生出血。     

头部外伤诱发颅内肿瘤卒中

目的 通过复习文献，对颅内肿瘤引起的颅内出血发生机制和临床特点进行探讨，旨在引起临床医师们的重视，以减少误诊误治。方法 本文报告9例误诊为外伤性颅内血肿的瘤卒中患者，其中5例术中发现颅内肿瘤同时切除，3例术后复查CT发现颅内肿瘤，二次手术切除。结果 全部病例随访6月，4例死亡，5例存活。结论 对疑为瘤卒中的颅内血肿患者，除仔细询问病史，全面体查外，术中应仔细寻找出血源，观察周围脑组织的改变，对可疑病变组织、血块及其腔壁一并切除，分送病检，从而作出正确的治疗方案。     

Deep intracerebral (basal ganglia) haematomas in fatal non-missile head injury in man.

Deep intracerebral (basal ganglia) haematomas were found post mortem in 63 of 635 fatal non-missile head injuries. In patients with a basal ganglia haematoma, contusions were more severe, there was a reduced incidence of a lucid interval, and there was an increased incidence of road traffic accidents, gliding contusions and diffuse axonal injury than in patients without this type of haematoma. Intracranial haematoma is usually thought to be a secondary event, that is a complication of the original injury, but these results suggest that a deep intracerebral haematoma is a primary event. If a deep intracerebral haematoma is identified on an early CT scan it is likely that the patient has sustained severe diffuse brain damage at the time of injury. In the majority of head injuries damage to blood vessels or axons predominates. In patients with a traumatic deep intracerebral haematoma, it would appear that the deceleration/acceleration forces are such that both axons and blood vessels within the brain are damaged at the time of injury.     

对颅内血肿抽吸引流术术后再出血和死亡的分析

目的　观察脑出血内科保守治疗和微创血肿抽吸引流治疗后再出血的发生率和死亡率 ,试图探讨再出血的发生原因 ,评估该治疗方法。方法　前瞻性地观察了 4 8例血肿大于 35ml基底节区脑出血行血肿抽吸引流治疗的患者住院期间再出血的发生率及死亡率 ,并与 83例前一年行保守治疗相同标准的患者对比分析。结果　手术组再出血发生率较保守组显著性高 ,而死亡率较保守组显著性低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,手术组平均住院日显著性短 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　再出血是微创颅内血肿抽吸流术的主要死亡原因 ,该手术可缩短病程 ,降低死亡率 ,减少并发症。为减少再出血的发生应严格地掌握其手术适应症和禁忌症     

Comparison of computerized tomography and radionuclide imaging in "stroke".

Forty patients were studied by computerized tomography and by radionuclide brain imaging. The final diagnosis was infarction in 29 patients, intracerebral hematoma in seven, acute SAH in one, and old cerebrovascular accidents in three. CT was far superior to RN in detecting intracerebral hematomas and distinguishing them from cerebral infarction. The results of CT and RN tests were comparable regarding the percentage of abnormalities. However, the results in the same patients were not identical in 55% of the cases, indicating a complementary role for the two tests. There was no relationship between the frequency of abnormalities on CT and the time lapse after the onset of cerebral infarction. RN uptake was not seen in patients with old cerebrovascular accidents.