Inactive large cerebral hemorrhage is not exacerbated by the adjustment of anticoagulation post open-heart surgery.

ABSTRACT

Optimal timing of open-heart surgery for the treatment of patients with cerebral hemorrhage remains controversial because systemic heparinization may lead to catastrophic bleeding. Several recent reports have shown that patients who undergo open-heart surgery .within a few weeks of cerebral hemorrhage have a much lower risk of exacerbated bleeding than previously considered. Herein, we report a case of left atrial myxoma and large hemorrhagic embolic stroke, which was successfully operated on with no exacerbation of cerebral hemorrhage. Careful assessment of time-course changes in cerebral hemorrhage by neurological imaging and adjustment of anticoagulation can help prevent the exacerbation of postoperative cerebral hemorrhage and neurological deterioration. <Learning objective: Evaluation of hemorrhagic activity is equally or more important than hemorrhagic size to prevent postoperative hemorrhagic deterioration in patients with preoperative cerebral hemorrhage. Careful assessment of time-course changes in cerebral hemorrhage by neurological imaging and adjustment of anticoagulation can help prevent the exacerbation of postoperative cerebral hemorrhage and neurological deterioration. Early open-heart surgery can be performed if the hemorrhage is judged as inactive, even if it is large.>.