Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents cerebral parenchymal bleeding that may also extend into ventricular, and rarely, subarachnoid space. As a stroke subtype, it is associated with poor neurological outcome as well as high mortality. The worldwide incidence of ICH ranges from 10 to 20 cases per 100,000 population and increases with age. Different risk factors can cause ICH: hypertension (the main and the most common risk factor), cerebral amyloid angiopathy, previous use of anticoagulant therapy, excessive use of alcohol, and also other risk factors such as serum cholesterol levels and some genetic factors. Its clinical presentation usually consist of a decreased level of consciousness with headache and vomiting (in patients with a large hematoma), and depending on localization some specific neurological signs could be present: contralateral sensory-motor deficits of varying severity, aphasia, neglect, gaze deviation, hemianopsia, abnormalities of gaze, cranial-nerve abnormalities, as well as ataxia, nystagmus, and dysmetria.Emergency diagnosis and management in neurological intensive care, or stroke units, with hypertension treatment, administration of haemostatic agents and general therapeutic measures for critically ill neurological patients may positively influence the outcome. Nevertheless, a larger number of randomized controlled studies are needed to answer several important questions, including how to treat hypertension, which haemostatic agent to use, as well as determining place and time of surgical treatment. LJILJANA BESLA]-BUMBA[IREVI] VI[NJA PA\EN DEJANA R. JOVANOVI] MAJA STEFANOVI]-BUDIMKI]

No abstract

Background and purpose By 2010 there had been 14 published trials of surgery for intracerebral haemorrhage reported in systematic reviews or to the authors, but the role and timing of operative intervention remains controversial and the practice continues to be haphazard. This study attempted to obtain individual patient data from each of the 13 studies published since 1985 in order to better define groups of patients that might benefit from surgery. Methods Authors of identified published papers were approached by mail, email and at conferences and invited to take part in the study. Data were obtained from 8 studies (2186 cases). Individual patient data included patient's age, GCS at presentation, volume and site of haematoma, presence of IVH, method of evacuation, time to randomisation and outcome. Results Meta-analysis indicated that there was improved outcome with surgery if it was undertaken within 8 hours of ictus (p = 0.003), or the volume of the haematoma was 20-50ml. (p = 0.004), or the GCS was between 9 and 12 (p = 0.0009), or the patient was aged between 50 and 69 (p = 0.01). In addition there was some evidence that more superficial haematomas with no IVH might also benefit (p = 0.09). Conclusions There is evidence that surgery is of benefit if undertaken early before the patient deteriorates. This work identifies areas for further research. Ongoing studies in subgroups of patients, such as STICH II, will confirm whether these interpretations can be replicated.

Moyamoya, meaning a “hazy puff of smoke” in Japanese, is a chronic, occlusive cerebrovascular disease involving bilateral stenosis or occlusion of the terminal portion of the internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and/or the proximal portions of the anterior cerebral arteries and middle cerebral arteries (MCAs). The Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan has defined 4 types of moyamoya disease (MMD): ischemic, hemorrhagic, epileptic, and “other.” The ischemic type has been shown to predominate in childhood, while the hemorrhagic type is more often observed in the adult population. The highest prevalence of MMD is found in Japan, with a higher female to male ratio. Studies have shown a possible genetic association of MMD linked to chromosome 17 in Japanese cases as well as in cases found in other demographics. During autopsy, intracerebral hematoma is found and most commonly serves as the major cause of death in patients with MMD. Moyamoya vessels at the base of the brain are composed of medium-sized or small muscular arteries emanating from the circle of Willis, mainly the intracranial portions of ICAs, anterior choroidal arteries, and posterior cerebral arteries, forming complex channels that connect with distal positions of the MCAs. Off of these channels are small tortuous and dilated vessels that penetrate into the base of the brain at the site of the thalamoperforate and lenticulostriate arteries. On angiography, there is the characteristic stenosis or occlusion bilaterally at the terminal portion of the ICAs as well as the moyamoya vessels at the base of the brain. Six angiographic stages have been described, from Stage 1, which reveals a narrowing of the carotid forks, to Stage 6, in which the moyamoya vessels disappear and collateral circulation is produced solely from the external carotid arteries. Cases with milder symptoms are usually treated conservatively; however, more severe symptomatic cases are treated using revascularization procedures. Surgical treatments are divided into 3 types: direct, indirect, and combined/other methods. Direct bypass includes superficial temporal artery-MCA bypass or use of other graft types. Indirect procedures bring in circulation to the intracranial regions by introducing newly developed vasculature from newly approximated tissues. These procedures may not be enough to prevent further ischemia; therefore, a combination of direct and indirect procedures is more suitable. This article will give a review of the epidemiology, natural history, pathology, pathophysiology, and diagnostic criteria, including imaging, and briefly describe the surgical treatment of MMD.

To date, a large blood burden is the only consistently demonstrated risk factor for the prediction of cerebral vasospasm after SAH. Because vasospasm is such a multifactorial problem, attempts to predict its occurrence will probably require several different approaches and methodologies, as is done at present. Future improvements in the prevention of cerebral vasospasm from aneurysmal SAH will most likely require advances in our understanding of its pathophysiology and our ability to predict its onset.