ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the value and advantage of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in the treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) through minimally invasive surgery. Methods Seventy-three HICH cases were randomly selected and then divided into control group and treatment group. Thirty-four of them in control group received soft-channel minimally invasive hematoma removal. The head of the soft-channel was placed in the center of the hematoma. One third to half of the initial hematoma was extracted during the operation. Urokinase was injected into the soft channel to dissolve the hematoma. Thirty-nine of them in treatment group underwent the same operation procedure but with ICP monitoring to control aspirating hematoma during the operation. The target ICP was 15 mmHg. The aspiration of hematoma may stop once the ICP down to the target. Treatment such as urokinase injection was adjusted according to the value of ICP monitoring throughout the operation. The incidence of rebleeding, hematoma evacuation time and the average length of stay between two groups were compared. Results The results showed that one fifth of hematoma extracted was enough for a desired ICP. There found no rebleeding case in treatment group while 4 cases in control group and the difference had statistical significance. The hematoma evacuation time and the average length of stay between two groups had statistical significance. Conclusion Continuous ICP monitoring combined with directional software channel minimally invasive surgery changes the concept of empirically intraoperative hematoma evacuation and postoperative drug injection and proposes the idea of controlling drainage. It can shorten the course, provide sensitive and objective indicators and basis, reduce the secondary brain injury and improve prognosis.