Image-guided endoscopic evacuation of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage

Introduction: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate despite current medical management. The benefits of open surgical evacuation for ICH remain controversial. Here we present initial results of the effectiveness of stereotactic image-guided endoscopic evacuation of ICH. Methods: Over 9-years, 41 patients with ICH (age 65+−14 years, 66% male, average admission GCS 10 & ICH Score 2, 46% with concurrent intraventricular hemorrhage) were treated. The current technique, which evolved from using direct endoscopic visualization, uses frameless stereotactic guidance alone to aspirate at two specified locations within the hematoma. An endoscope sheath is introduced through a bur hole into the hematoma along its long axis. Suction is applied to the sheath, without endoscopic viewing, at two locations, 1/3 and 2/3 of the way through the long-axis of the ICH. Endoscopic visualization of the cavity is then performed to ensure hemostasis. ICH volume was calculated using pre- and postoperative CT measurements ((length x width x height)/2). Results: Pre- and postoperative ICH volumes averaged 56.5 and 15.9cc, respectively, a reduction of 67.6+−41.9% (p<0.0001) with greater than 50% reduction in 78% of patients. Within 30 days, two patients (5%) developed rebleeding, one with acutely increased hematoma volume on postop CT. Average preop modified Rankin Score (mRS) decreased from 4.4 to 4.1 at follow-up (p=0.17). Seven-day and 30-day mortality occurred in 5 (12%) and 1 (2.4%) patients, respectively. This 30-day mortality compares favorably with the predicted rate of 26% based on average ICH score of 2 for the series. There were 2 surgical complications including ipsilateral ischemic stroke and subdural hematoma. Comparing the current aspiration technique to the previous technique, there were trends towards greater average reduction in hematoma volume (81.7% versus 58.5%, respectively, p=0.08) and greater improvement in clinical outcome (average mRS improvement 0.75 points versus 0 points, respectively, p=0.08). Conclusions: Image-guided endoscopic evacuation is a minimally-invasive approach to reduce ICH volume. Greater than 50% reduction in hematoma volume was achieved in the large majority of patients. Further study is required to evaluate the impact of endoscopic ICH evacuation on clinical outcomes compared to other treatments.

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Does Acute Endoscopic Evacuation Improve the Outcome of Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage?

European Neurology ◽

10.1159/000115804 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 254-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

L.M. Auer ◽

P.W. Ascher ◽

F. Heppner ◽

G. Ladurner ◽

G. Boné ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽

Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽

Endoscopic Evacuation

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Frontal bur hole through an eyebrow incision for image-guided endoscopic evacuation of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2012.7.jns111567 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 117 (4) ◽

pp. 767-773 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Justin A. Dye ◽

Joshua R. Dusick ◽

Darrin J. Lee ◽

Nestor R. Gonzalez ◽

Neil A. Martin

Keyword(s):

Glasgow Coma Scale ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽

Midline Shift ◽

Hematoma Volume ◽

Coma Scale ◽

Endoscopic Evacuation ◽

The Mean

Object Surgical evacuation of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) remains a subject of controversy. Minimally invasive techniques for hematoma evacuation have shown a trend toward improved outcomes. The aim of the present study is to describe a minimally invasive alternative for the evacuation of sICH and evaluate its feasibility. Methods The authors reviewed records of all patients who underwent endoscopic evacuation of an sICH at the UCLA Medical Center between March 2002 and March 2011. All patients in whom the described technique was used for evacuation of an sICH were included in this series. In this approach an incision is made at the superior margin of the eyebrow, and a bur hole is made in the supraorbital bone lateral to the frontal sinus. Using stereotactic guidance, the surgeon advanced the endoscopic sheath along the long axis of the hematoma and fixed it in place at two specific depths where suction was then applied until 75%–85% of the preoperatively determined hematoma volume was removed. An endoscope's camera, then introduced through the sheath, was used to assist in hemostasis. Preoperative and postoperative hematoma volumes and reduction in midline shift were calculated and recorded. Admission Glasgow Coma Scale and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were compared with postoperative scores. Results Six patients underwent evacuation of an sICH using the eyebrow/bur hole technique. The mean preoperative hematoma volume was 68.9 ml (range 30.2–153.9 ml), whereas the mean postoperative residual hematoma volume was 11.9 ml (range 5.1–24.1 ml) (p = 0.02). The mean percentage of hematoma evacuated was 79.2% (range 49%–92.7%). The mean reduction in midline shift was 57.8% (p < 0.01). The Glasgow Coma Scale score improved in each patient between admission and discharge examination. In 5 of the 6 patients the mRS score improved from admission exam to last follow-up. None of the patients experienced rebleeding. Conclusions This minimally invasive technique is a feasible alternative to other means of evacuating sICHs. It is intended for anterior basal ganglia hematomas, which usually have an elongated, ovoid shape. The approach allows for an optimal trajectory to the long axis of the hematoma, making it possible to evacuate the vast majority of the clot with only one pass of the endoscopic sheath, theoretically minimizing the amount of damage to normal brain.

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