Surgical treatment of hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage; stereotactic aspiration surgery vs suboccipital craniectomy]

Patients with severe types of hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage have been treated usually by suboccipital craniectomy and hematoma evacuation. However, since 1981, we have treated such patients with stereotactic aspiration surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognosis of patients treated by stereotactic aspiration surgery for cerebellar hemorrhage in comparison with those who underwent suboccipital craniectomy. Between May 1976 and December 1989, 246 patients with hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage were admitted to our university hospital and affiliated hospitals. The patients were classified into four categories according to the grading of hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage proposed by Matsumoto in 1982; benign, moderate, severe, and fulminant. Then we decided the most appropriate therapy according to this grading. Fifty-nine patients (24.0%) underwent suboccipital craniectomy and 38 (15.4%) underwent stereotactic aspiration surgery. There was no significant difference in the postoperative outcome between suboccipital craniectomy and stereotactic aspiration surgery in the overall study. However prognosis of the fulminant type was significantly better with stereotactic aspiration surgery than with suboccipital craniectomy. Possible reasons for this include: 1) All patients of this type who underwent aspiration surgery had this procedure within 12 hours after the onset of cerebellar hemorrhage. 2) The hematoma volume of most patients of this type who had aspiration surgery was under 30ml. 3) The age of all patients of this type with aspiration surgery was under 70 years old. In conclusion, we suggest that aspiration surgery for hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage is indicated for all patients with moderate, severe and fulminant types of hemorrhage.     

Surgical treatment of spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage

Spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage accounts for 5%–10% of intracerebral hemorrhage in most series. From June 1979 to June 1983 we had 26 surgical cases of spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage. There were 15 men and 11 women. The typical history was sudden onset of severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, and inability to walk. Disturbance of consciousness was usually a late feature. Common signs were truncal ataxia, nystagmus, conjugate eyeball deviation, small miotic pupils with or without light reflex and abducens palsy. Surgical indications are (a) disturbance of consciousness, (b) signs of brainstem compression and (c) hematoma with transverse diameter greater than 3 cm. The overall surgical mortality was 34.6%. Twenty-two patients underwent suboccipital craniectomy to evacuate hematomas with or without ventriculostomy; mortality rate was 27%. Four patients underwent ventriculostomy only; mortality was 75%. Causes of death were (a) brainstem failure, six patients; (b) airway obstruction, one patient; (c) chest infection, one patient; (d) chronic renal failure, one patient. Conclusion: (a) suboccipital craniectomy to evacuate the hematoma is the most effective procedure where treatment is indicated; (b) the clinical recovery of the survivors show that 31% return to work, 38% are moderately disabled but take care of themselves, and 31% remain dependent on others; (c) deeply comatose patients may still benefit from early operation.     

Grading and operative indication for hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage

Fifty six patients with hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage diagnosed by CT scan were hospitalized from November 1976 up to June 1984. The 35 male and 21 female patients ranged in age from 24 to 84 years, and 39 of them were operated on. The important factors related to prognosis of cerebellar hemorrhage were level of consciousness, size of hematoma on CT scan, and massive ventricular hemorrhage resulting in obstruction of the ventricular system. We classified the patient with cerebellar hemorrhage into 5 grades, according to the severity of these factors. Grade I indicates cerebellar signs without disturbance of consciousness and size of hematoma less than 25 mm measured by CT scan. Grade II indicates disturbance of consciousness (stupor), or progressive neurological deficits, and size of hematoma less than 50 mm without acute hydrocephalus. Grade III reveals disturbance of consciousness (stupor-semicoma), and size of hematoma less than 50 mm with acute hydrocephalus. Grade IV reveals severe disturbance of consciousness (semicoma), and size of hematoma less than 50 mm with massive ventricular hemorrhage. Grade V exhibits deep coma, and more than 50 mm diameter of hematoma. The prognosis of all of 9 patients in Grade I was good, Eleven out of 13 patients (85%) in Grade II and all of 9 patients in Grade III were alive. Fourteen out of 19 patients (74%) in Grade IV and all of 6 patients in Grade V expired in spite of operation. The patients of Grade I should be treated by conservative therapy. The patients of Grade II, Grade III, and Grade IV should be managed surgically. Surgical treatment for Grade V is not advisable.     

Evaluation of CT-guided stereotactic hematoma aspiration in mild cases with putaminal hemorrhage

Reported here is the effectiveness of surgical management in mild cases with putaminal hemorrhage (neurological grading 1 or 2, described by Kanaya, et al.). Ten cases were treated by CT-guided stereotactic hematoma aspiration (aspiration group), and another 10 cases were treated by only medical therapy (conservative group). The mean interval from the onset to operation was 7.2 days. In both groups, serial change in the motor function of the upper extremity was examined and the neuropsychological function was also evaluated at 2 weeks after onset. Perifocal low-density area around the hematoma was estimated on CT scan at 2 weeks after onset. Mean hemispheric cerebral blood flow (mCBF) was measured at 5-days, 2 weeks and 6 months after onset, respectively in each group. The activity of daily life (ADL) was evaluated at 6 months after onset. There was no statistically significant difference in age, neurological grading and CT findings on admission between the 2 groups. At 2 weeks after onset, no case had deteriorated in motor function in the aspiration group. On the other hand, 2 cases had deteriorated in the conservative group. The neuropsychological function was considerably improved in the majority of cases in the aspiration group. Perifocal low area was significantly narrow on CT scan in the aspiration group. At 2 weeks after onset, the mCBF of the affected side was 53.8 +/- 6.0 ml/100g/min in the aspiration group, whereas it was 42.0 +/- 5.7 ml/100g/min in the conservative group. This difference was statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Review of long-term results of stereotactic psychosurgery

Stereotactic psychosurgery is an effective method for treating some medically intractable psychiatric illnesses. However, it is unfamiliar and the long-term clinical results have not been reported in Asia. The long-term results of psychosurgery are evaluated and the neuroanatomical basis is discussed. Twenty-one patients underwent stereotactic psychosurgery for medically intractable psychiatric illnesses since 1993. All were referred from psychiatrists for these disorders. Two patients showed aggressive behavior, 12 had obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and seven had depression with anxiety disorders. Bilateral amygdalotomy and subcaudate tractotomy were performed for aggressive behavior, limbic leucotomy was performed for OCD, and subcaudate tractotomy with or without cingulotomy was performed for depression with anxiety. OCD was evaluated with the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), the visual analogue scale, the Clinical Global Impression Scale, and the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS). The Mini-Mental State Examination and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised were used for the evaluation of aggressive behavior. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used for evaluation of depression. Ventriculography was used in the first seven patients and magnetic resonance imaging-guided stereotaxy was used in the recent 14 cases for localization of the target. The lesions were made with a radiofrequency lesion generator. OAS scores in the two patients with aggressive behavior during follow up declined from 8 to 2 with clinical improvement. All 12 patients with OCD returned to their previous life and showed the mean YBOCS scores decreased from 34 to 3. Ten patients with OCD could be followed up (mean 45 months). All patients returned to their previous social life. In seven patients with depression with anxiety, HAMD scores declined from 28.5 to 16.5. There was no operative mortality and no significant morbidity except for one case of mild transient urinary incontinence. These long-term results indicate that stereotactic psychosurgery is a safe and effective method of treating some medically intractable psychiatric illnesses.     

Endoscopic hematoma evacuation for hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage.

OBJECT: The management of spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage remains controversial, particularly the surgical indications. Endoscopic surgery was evaluated for the treatment of spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage. METHODS: The records of 69 patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage were retrospectively reviewed. Patients treated by endoscopic surgery (n = 10) were compared with patients treated by conventional surgical hematoma evacuation (n = 10) under the same surgical indications. RESULTS: The surgical procedure time, duration of ventricular drainage, extent of hematoma evacuation, necessity for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt, surgical complications, and outcome at discharge and at 3 months after onset were compared. The extent of hematoma evacuation was greater in the endoscopic group (95.2 %) than in the craniectomy group (90.6 %) but without significant difference. The endoscopic technique (64.5 min) took significantly less time than the craniectomy method (230.6 min, p < 0.0001). The period of ventricular drainage was significantly shorter in the endoscopic group (2.6 days) compared to the craniectomy group (12.3 days, p < 0.01). CSF shunt surgery was required in no patient in the endoscopic group compared to three in the craniectomy group. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic hematoma evacuation is a rapid, effective, and safe technique for the removal of hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage. Reduction of the mass effect can be accomplished with low risk of recurrent hemorrhage. Release of obstructive hydrocephalus in the early stage may improve the patient's outcome and decrease the requirement for permanent shunt emplacement.     

Stereotactic evacuation of hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage using plasminogen activator

Treatment for hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage still remains controversial as to whether direct surgical procedure is indicated or not. This is so even after the introduction of CT scan which easily demonstrates the location and size of the hematoma and the presence of hydrocephalus. In this paper, we present our experience of 20 patients with cerebellar hemorrhage treated by stereotactic evacuation using Komai's CT-stereotactic apparatus. All the patients had vertigo, cerebellar symptoms, dysfunction of brain stem or consciousness disturbance. The hematomas on CT scan were more than 28 mm in diameter. Acute obstructive hydrocephalus occurred in 90% of the patients with hematoma 40 mm or larger in size. The patients with consciousness disturbance were immediately operated on after the attack, and a drainage tube was placed in the hematoma cavity to drain cerebrospinal fluid and liquefied hematoma for one to eight days. On the other hand, when patients with hematoma around 30 mm in diameter complained vertigo for about two weeks, they also were operated on stereotactically. After the operation, their symptoms improved rapidly. The stereotactic operation could aspirate about 85% of the estimated hematoma volume and improved the hydrocephalus, except in one case in which the patient rapidly deteriorated to coma level with a large cerebellar hemorrhage and brain stem damage. This stereotactic evacuation of cerebellar hematoma using a plasminogen activator is effective for not only the removal of hematoma, but also for the treatment of secondary hydrocephalus following obstruction of the fourth ventricle by cerebellar hemorrhage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Paramedian suboccipital mini-craniectomy for evacuation of spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage

Patients with spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage are usually treated by large suboccipital craniectomy for hematoma evacuation or by computed tomography-guided stereotactic aspiration of the hematoma. The present study evaluated the outcome and complications in 25 patients with spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage treated by paramedian suboccipital mini-craniectomy and 21 patients treated by large suboccipital craniectomy. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to age, clinical grade, hematoma volume, hematoma location, hydrocephalus, and mean interval from admission to operation. There was also no significant difference in postoperative outcome between the two groups. However, patients treated by paramedian suboccipital mini-craniectomy were less likely to require blood transfusion, had a shorter operating time, and had less postoperative liquorrhea compared with those undergoing extensive suboccipital craniectomy. Paramedian suboccipital mini-craniectomy is a simple and effective method for hematoma evacuation that causes fewer complications.     

Emergency manual aspiration for severe hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage]

We treated 16 patients with hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage and coma, or deep coma. Their ages ranged from 44 to 79 years (mean age: 66.3 years). Manual aspiration was performed in 9 patients and suboccipital craniectomy was performed in 7 patients. The difference in outcome between the manual aspiration group and the suboccipital craniectomy group with severe hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage was then evaluated. Manual aspiration was performed for 4 patients in coma, and 5 in deep coma, with a mean age of 69.0 years. The average size of the hematoma was 48.7mm and the mean volume was 31. 7ml on CT scan. The mean interval from admission to operation was about 60 minutes. The mean aspiration rate was 79.6% and 7 patients (77.8%) had a good response to drainage. The suboccipital craniectomy patients included 5 in coma, and 2 in deep coma, with a mean age of 63.4 years. The average size of the hematoma was 51.1 mm and the mean volume was 33.1 ml on CT scan. The mean interval from admission to operation was about 112 minutes and the mean evacuation rate was 86.4%. The results were as follows: 1) After manual aspiration, 5 patients (55.6%) had a good outcome and 2 patients (40%) with deep coma showed good recovery. In contrast, after suboccipital craniectomy only 2 patients (28.6%) had a good outcome and all of the deep coma patients showed poor recovery. 2) The outcome may be most strongly influenced by the duration from admission to operation. 3) All patients with a hematoma volume of over 30 ml had a poor outcome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

急诊手术治疗自发性小脑血肿59例分析

目的探讨自发性小脑出血的外科治疗方式。方法回顾性分析采用不同手术方式治疗59例自发性小脑出血患者的临床资料。采用后后颅窝开颅小脑内血肿清除及去骨瓣减压术29例。采用CT引导定位血肿穿刺引流术22例,单纯脑室外引流治疗8例,结果按GOS标准评估预后,死亡4例,重残5例,恢复良好50例。结论对自发性小脑出血患者,要根据发病病因、病情轻重、头颅CT表现,选择不同的手术方式;及时手术可以取得良好的治疗效果。     

CT-guided stereotactic surgery of brain abscess

Seven patients with brain abscess underwent CT-guided stereotactic aspiration using Iseki's stereotactic apparatus. Three of them were under the age of fifteen and four were older than thirty. The lesions were single and round in four cases, multilobular in two and multiple in one patient. Operations were performed after systemic administration of antibiotics for more than two weeks and after capsule formation was confirmed on CTs. Preoperative volume of the abscesses was estimated from CTs. The target point chosen was the center of the ring of the largest diameter in the enhanced lesion. Abscess was aspirated under monitoring with intraoperative CT scan. No continuous drainage was performed and no antibiotics were given directly into the abscess cavity. In all cases the center of the abscess was punctured with a single trial. Average volume of the preoperative brain abscesses was 18.8ml. Aspirated volume at the time of the operation averaged 16.9ml and all the abscesses decreased to unmeasurable size on CTs. In five of seven patients abscesses were cured after a single aspiration, and in one case after the second operation. One case required extirpation of the lesion. During the follow-up period of four months to five and a half years six patients showed no recurrence. One patient died of unrelated cause four and a half years after the operation. No operative complication was noted. There was no operative morbidity or mortality. Using a CT guided stereotactic method, brain abscess is punctured so accurately, regardless of its location and size, that damage to the surrounding brain during operation can be minimized. Therefore it is highly possible to aspirate abscesses completely.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinical study of hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage: surgical indication and measurement of volume of hematoma

There have been a few reports available for determining surgical indications in hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage based on volume of hematoma on computerized tomography (CT). The authors then studied the clinical results of hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage, and the surgical indication based on clinical findings and volume of hematoma on CT scan was considered. Forty-five patients with hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage diagnosed by CT scan who were hospitalized to Matsue Red Cross Hospital from January 1980 up to December 1986 were studied. The 25 male and 20 female patients ranged in age from 52 to 85 years, and 16 of them were operated on. The results were as follows: 1) The Kanaya's neurological grading tended to be high in the patients with cerebellar vermis hemorrhage or a large volume of hematoma (greater than or equal to 30 ml). 2) In patients with grade I or II and a moderate volume of hematoma (15-30 ml), the patient complicated with hydrocephalus should be treated with ventricular drainage. The patients with grade III and IVa should be treated with surgical therapy (suboccipital craniectomy and evacuation of the hematoma). The patients with cerebellar vermis hemorrhage should be treated with surgical therapy. The patients with a large volume of hematoma (greater than or equal to 30 ml) should be treated with surgical therapy. The patients with grade IVb and V should not be treated actively because the prognosis is bad.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of brain abscesses

The effective treatment of intracranial abscess remains controversial. Progress in technology, linked with the development of neuronavigational systems, has made stereotactic aspiration and drainage of intracerebral abscesses effective and valid alternatives to traditional methods, namely, conservative medical treatment or open surgical excision. Between 1995 and 2002, 12 patients at our hospital underwent drainage of intracerebral abscesses under stereotactic guidance. Ten patients had solitary lesions and two had multiple abscesses. The appropriate antibiotic schemes were administered following culture of the aspirated material. The size of the abscess, the mass effect, and response to antibiotic treatment were followed up by repeated CT scans. All patients showed improvement and, at the end of treatment, returned to their previous activities. There were neither deaths nor any postoperative complication. A second aspiration was required in one patient due to recurrence of the abscess. The CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of brain abscesses helps achieve all treatment goals. It drains the contents of the abscess, reduces mass effect, and confirms diagnosis. It is minimally invasive, carries minimal morbidity and mortality, and can be performed on compromised patients under local anesthesia.     

CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of brain abscesses

The effective treatment of intracranial abscess remains controversial. Progress in technology, linked with the development of neuronavigational systems, has made stereotactic aspiration and drainage of intracerebral abscesses effective and valid alternatives to traditional methods, namely, conservative medical treatment or open surgical excision. Between 1995 and 2002, 12 patients at our hospital underwent drainage of intracerebral abscesses under stereotactic guidance. Ten patients had solitary lesions and two had multiple abscesses. The appropriate antibiotic schemes were administered following culture of the aspirated material. The size of the abscess, the mass effect, and response to antibiotic treatment were followed up by repeated CT scans. All patients showed improvement and, at the end of treatment, returned to their previous activities. There were neither deaths nor any postoperative complication. A second aspiration was required in one patient due to recurrence of the abscess. The CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of brain abscesses helps achieve all treatment goals. It drains the contents of the abscess, reduces mass effect, and confirms diagnosis. It is minimally invasive, carries minimal morbidity and mortality, and can be performed on compromised patients under local anesthesia.     

伽玛刀联合立体定向间质内放疗治疗囊实体混合性颅咽管瘤的远期疗效分析

目的 评价伽玛刀联合立体定向囊内间质内放疗治疗囊实体混合性颅咽管瘤的远期疗效.方法 回顾性分析1996年10月至2005年12月接受伽玛刀联合立体定向囊内间质内放疗治疗并至少生存5年的67例囊实体混合性颅咽管瘤患者资料.男性39例,女性28例;年龄3～ 70岁,平均31.5岁.随访内容包括临床评估(神经检查、神经眼科和神经内分泌学检查)、综合生活质量评价、神经影像学检查、生存率和生存期分析.采用x2检验,Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率.结果 随访时间60～168个月,平均114个月,伽玛刀联合立体定向囊内间质内放疗治疗对大实体小囊性、大囊性小实体颅咽管瘤以及总体有效控制率分别为10/12、90.9％和89.6％.本组患者的平均生存时间为(110±9)个月.大实体小囊性和大囊性小实体肿瘤患者的平均生存时间为(97±12)和(120±14)个月,10年实际生存率分别为7/12和69.1％.两组患者的肿瘤控制率和10年生存率间差异无统计学意义(x2 =0.114和1.541,P ＞0.05).5～10年的实际生存率分别为90.5％、85.7％、83.3％、76.4％、69.4％和60.0％.视力受损者术后6个月和长期随访的改善率分别为68.3％和70.0％.67例患者末次随访时综合生活质量评价28例(41.8％)优,19例(28.4％)良,17例(25.4％)可,3例(4.5％)差.治疗后6 ～12个月4例视力下降,4例出现新的丘脑下部功能受损表现,1例于术后5年出现一侧动眼神经不全麻痹,并发症发生率为13.4％.结论 伽玛刀联合立体定向间质内放疗为囊实混合性颅咽管瘤提供了良好的肿瘤控制率和理想的远期生存率,是一种安全有效的治疗选择.     

CT-guided stereotactic aspiration and treatment of brain abscesses

Summary The present study reports our experience with stereotactic puncture, aspiration and drainage of brain abscesses in 24 patients from a series of 34 consecutive cases. In all patients an intracavitary catheter was left in place for external drainage and daily irrigation with antibiotics. The patients received pre- and postoperatively triple broad spectrum antibiotic treatment, associated with low dose steroids and anti-epileptic drugs. Follow-up CT scans showed immediate reduction of the abscess size and gradual diameter diminution of the enhancing ring structure until its disappearance. The clinical presentation, risk factors, aetiology, outcome, bacteriological and CT findings were analysed. Mortality in this series was 4%. The majority of patients (96%) had no or minimal disability according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Our results confirm the value of this treatment policy and suggest that the stereotactic technique is a simple and safe method with minimal mortality and morbidity in the treatment of the majority of chronic brain abscesses.