The initial CT blend sign is not associated with poor patient outcomes after stereotactic minimally invasive surgery.

BACKGROUND: The initial CT blend sign is an imaging marker that has been used to predict haematoma expansion and poor outcomes in patients with small-volume intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). However, the association of the blend sign with the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery remains unclear. The present study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the influence of the initial CT blend sign on short-term outcomes in patients with hypertensive ICH after stereotactic minimally invasive surgery (sMIS). METHODS: We enrolled 242 patients with spontaneous ICH. The patients were assigned to the blend sign group (91 patients) or non-blend sign (control) group (151 patients) based on the initial CT features. The NIHSS, GCS and mRS were used to assess the effects of sMIS. The rates of severe pulmonary infection and cardiac complications were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in the NIHSS and GCS scores were not observed between the blend sign group and the control group. No significant differences in the proportion of patients with good outcomes during the follow-up period were observed between the two groups. A higher rate of re-haemorrhage was noted in the blend sign group. Significant differences in the rates of severe pulmonary infection and cardiac complications were not observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The initial CT blend sign is not associated with poor outcomes in patients with hypertensive ICH after sMIS. ICH patients with the CT blend sign should undergo sMIS if they are suitable candidates for surgery.

Regular-Shaped Hematomas Predict a Favorable Outcome in Patients with Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage Following Stereotactic Minimally Invasive Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic minimally invasive surgery (sMIS) has been used in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in recent years and has obtained promising results. However, the outcomes of patients are associated with many factors. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively observe the relationship between hematoma shape features and the outcome of patients with spontaneous ICH following sMIS. METHODS: One hundred eighty-three patients with hypertensive ICH who underwent sMIS were enrolled. Based on hematoma shape features, the patients were assigned to a regular-shaped hematoma group (RSH group, including 121 patients) or an irregular-shaped hematoma group (ISH group, including 62 patients). The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score were assessed on admission and at 1 week and 2 weeks after surgery. The rates of severe pulmonary infection, cardiac complications, and postoperative rebleeding during the hospital stay were also recorded for comparison. The functional outcome assessed by using the modified Rankin scale score was determined at discharge. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for predictors of good outcome in patients with ICH who underwent sMIS. A receiver operating characteristic curve was also used to confirm the results. RESULTS: Compared to the ISH group, the RSH group showed increased median GCS scores at one week and two weeks after surgery. The RSH group showed significantly decreased NIHSS scores at one week and two weeks after surgery compared with the ISH group at the same time point. Significant differences in the GCS score and the NIHSS score at 1 week (P < 0.05) and 2 weeks (P < 0.05) after surgery were observed between the RSH group and the ISH group. The RSH group showed lower rates of severe pulmonary infection, heart failure, and postoperative rehemorrhage than the ISH group (P < 0.05). Of the total patients with good outcomes, the RSH group accounted for 84.6%, and just 15.4% were from the ISH group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that regular-shaped hematoma (P < 0.0001) was an independent predictor of good outcome. The postoperative residual hematoma volume (P < 0.05) predicted a poor outcome. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of regular-shaped hematomas for the prediction of a favorable outcome in patients were 0.667, 0.846, 0.917, and 0.542, respectively. Additionally, the Youden index was 0.513. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with regular-shaped hematomas exhibited more favorable outcomes. Irregular-shaped hematomas and postoperative residual hematoma volume predicted a poor outcome in patients with ICH following sMIS.

Is the CT Blend Sign Composed of Two Parts of Blood with Different Age?

BACKGROUND: Blend sign on initial computed tomography (CT) is associated with poor outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the mechanisms underlying the blend sign formation are poorly understood. The present study aimed to explore the possible mechanism of the CT blend sign in patients with ICH. METHODS: Seventy healthy rabbits were selected to prepare an ICH model. The animals were assigned to a whole blood group + whole blood group (ww group, 50 rabbits), a whole blood + plasma group (wp group, 10 rabbits) or a whole blood + serum group (ws group, 10 rabbits). The animals of the ww group were allocated to five subgroups based on the interval between the first infusion of blood and the second one. The subgroups included ww 1 h group (with an interval of 1 h), ww 2 h group, ww 3 h group, ww 4 h group and ww 5 h group. The rabbits from each group received first infusion of 0.3 mL of whole blood into the basal ganglia area to form a hematoma. Then, they received a second infusion of the same amount of whole blood, plasma or serum into the brain to form another hematoma adjacent to the first one. RESULTS: A hematoma with two densities on brain CT could be formed in each group after a second infusion of blood into the brain. A significant difference in CT attenuation values was observed between the hyperattenuation and the hypoattenuation in all the groups. However, only the morphological features of the hematoma in the ww group was in accordance with the CT blend sign observed in humans. The CT attenuation values in the hypodensity area of the ww 4 h group or the ww 5 h group were decreased compared with the ww 1 h group to the ww 3 h group. CONCLUSIONS: The CT blend sign observed in humans might be composed of two parts of blood with different ages. The hypodense area might be blood with older age and the hyperdense area might be new bleeding.

Post-operative re-bleeding in patients with hypertensive ICH is closely associated with the CT blend sign.

BACKGROUNDS: Intracranial post-operative re-haemorrhage is an important complication in patients with hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). The purpose of the present study was to determine the value of the computed tomography (CT) blend sign in predicting post-operative re-haemorrhage in patients with ICH. METHODS: A total of 126 patients with ICH were included in the present study. All the patients underwent standard stereotactic minimally invasive surgery(MIS) to remove the ICH within 24 h following admission. There were 41 patients with a blend sign on initial CT and 85 patients without a blend sign on the initial CT. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between the presence of the blend sign on the non-enhanced admission CT scan and post-operative re-haemorrhage. RESULTS: Post-operative re-haemorrhage occurred in 24 of the 41 patients with the blend sign, and in 9 of the 85 patients without the blend sign. The incidence of re-haemorrhage was significantly different between the groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the initial Glasgow coma scale score (p = 0.002) and blend sign (P < 0.00) on the initial CT scan are independent predictors of post-operative re-haemorrhage. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the blend sign for predicting post-operative re-haemorrhage were 72.7, 81.7, 58.5 and 89.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of the blend sign on the initial CT scan is closely associated with post-operative re-haemorrhage in patients with ICH who undergo stereotactic MIS.

Minimally invasive procedures reduced the damages to motor function in patients with thalamic hematoma: observed by motor evoked potential and diffusion tensor imaging.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to observe changes in motor function using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and motor-evoked potential (MEP) in patients with thalamic hematoma treated by minimally invasive procedures. METHODS: Forty-three patients with thalamic hematoma were randomized to either a minimally invasive group (MI group) or a medical treatment group (MT group). The patients in the MI group underwent whole-brain DTI and MEP measurements both before and 2 weeks after the thalamic hematoma was evacuated by minimally invasive procedures. The fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the corticospinal tract (CST) in the internal capsule and MEP ipsilateral to the hematoma side and the contralateral side were determined and then compared with the MT group. RESULTS: DTI showed that fibers in the internal capsule ipsilateral to the hematoma decreased either in number or were interrupted because of hematoma-induced damages, and in both groups, the CST FA values on admission were significantly lower (0.428 ± 0.032 and 0.415 ± 0.048 for the MI and MT groups, respectively) than the control values. Two weeks after the hematoma was evacuated, the number of fibers and the FA values of the CST in the internal capsule had both increased significantly relative to the values on admission. MEP was recorded simultaneously in all patients who were treated with minimally invasive procedures, and the latency of MEP decreased compared with the MT group. As FA values of the CST in internal capsule increased and MEP appeared with its latency decreased, the modified National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score decreased after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive procedures for thalamic hematoma evacuation could effectively reduce the degree of injury to the function as observed by a combination of DTI and MEP measurements.

The Effect of a New Ligation and Venipuncture Method on Vena Basilica Vessel.

Objective: This study evaluated the impact of a novel venipuncture method on vascular parameters of vena basilica to provide a new technical option for the clinical management of difficult venipuncture. Methods: 32 volunteers examined by ultrasound at the Medical Imaging Center of The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Jiangsu province, from February 2020 to April 2020 were randomly selected. One hand of each patient was ligated with the traditional single tourniquet and the new ligation method for 20 seconds. Then, the distance between the left or right vena basilica and the skin and the diameter of blood vessels were measured by ultrasound. 98 patients with peripheral venipuncture difficulty who were examined by ultrasound of a third-grade hospital from April 2019 to March 2020 were selected and randomly divided into control group (n = 49) and experimental group (n = 49). The traditional method was used in the control group, and the new peripheral venipuncture was used in the experimental group. The success rate of single puncture, preparation time before puncture, time required for puncture operation, pain reaction during puncture, intravascular congestion after puncture, subcutaneous tissue injury, and vascular reuse rate after puncture were compared between the two methods. Results: The new ligation and puncture method increased the diameter of peripheral superficial vein vessels by 0.51 ± 0.04 mm, and the change of vena basilica diameter was not significantly associated with gender and age of patient. The success rate of single puncture and the vascular reuse rate were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group, while the preparation time and venipuncture time, as well as the patient's pain response, were significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group, and the intravascular congestion and subcutaneous tissue injury were lower. In addition, the mean satisfaction score of patients in the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. Conclusion: The new ligation and puncture method was an effective vena basilica dilation technique for filling the peripheral superficial veins, improving puncture success rate of peripheral difficult vein, and reducing patient pain, which was worth popularizing and applying in clinic.

Study of Intracranial Hematoma Removal and High Intracranial Pressure Reduction Using a Novel Three-Needle Brain Puncture Technique.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of minimally invasive surgery for intracranial hematoma removal and high intracranial pressure (ICP) reduction using a novel three-needle brain puncture technique. Methods: A total of 202 cases with supratentorial hematoma were analyzed, 54 of whom received three-needle brain puncture (study group), and the remaining cases received single-needle (control groups 1 and 2) and two-needle brain puncture (control group 3). The amount of intracranial hematoma removed, changes in ICP, retention time of puncture needle, volume of residual blood, the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and postoperative survival rate were used as indexes to evaluate patient outcomes. Results: We found that three-needle brain puncture (study group) can remove more intracranial hematoma (P < 0.05) and achieve lower ICP (P < 0.05) than single- and two-needle brain puncture (control group). The needle retention time and volume of residual blood significantly decreased in the study group. Additionally, a statistically significant difference was observed in the NIHSS scores and survival rates between the study and control groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These data suggest that three-needle minimally invasive stereotactic puncture can effectively remove hematoma, reduce ICP, decrease the degree of brain damage, and improve prognosis.

Minimally invasive procedures for evacuation of intracerebral hemorrhage reduces perihematomal glutamate content, blood-brain barrier permeability and brain edema in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: To observe the effects of the minimally invasive removal of an intracerebral hematoma on the glutamate concentration, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and brain water content in the brain tissue surrounding the hematoma and to provide a theoretical basis for minimally invasive removal of intracerebral hematomas. METHODS: Thirty rabbits (2.8-3.4 kg body weight) were selected to establish a model of intracerebral hemorrhage, and they were randomly divided into a model control group and a minimally invasive group after the model was prepared successfully. The intracerebral hematoma was evacuated by stereotactic procedures in minimally invasive group 6 h after the model was established. The glutamate content, the permeability of the BBB and the brain water content in perihematomal brain tissues were determined and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The glutamate content, the permeability of the BBB and the brain water content in the perihematomal brain tissues were significantly decreased compared to the model control group 1, 3, and 7 days after the minimally invasive removal of the intracerebral hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive surgery for removal of an intracerebral hematoma could significantly reduce the glutamate content, BBB permeability and the brain water content in perihematomal brain tissues.

Intracerebral hemorrhage with tentorial herniation: Conventional open surgery or emergency stereotactic craniopuncture aspiration surgery?

BACKGROUND: To observe the therapeutic effect of conventional decompressive craniectomy with hematoma evacuation and frame-based stereotactic minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for supratentorial intracranial hematoma with herniation. METHODS: One hundred forty-nine patients with hypertensive ICH complicated with tentorial herniation were reviewed and analyzed in the present study. The intracranial hematoma was evacuated by emergency surgery within 6 h after admission. According to the authorized representatives' wishes and consent, 74 of the 149 patients were treated by conventional decompressive craniectomy followed by hematoma removal, defined as the CDC group, and the remaining 75 patients underwent frame-based stereotactic MIS for ICH evacuation, defined as the MIS group. The intervals between the admission to surgery, the duration of surgery, the amount of iatrogenic bleeding, the occurrence of postoperative rebleeding, and the recovery of neurological functions were compared between the two groups. All patients were followed up for 3 months. Secondary epilepsy, survival in a vegetative state, severe pulmonary complications, mortality, and activities of daily living (ADL) classification were also recorded and compared. RESULTS: The interval between admission and surgery, the duration of surgery, and intraoperative blood loss in the MIS group were significantly decreased compared to the CDC group. The mortality rate, the rate of rebleeding, prevalence of vegetative state, and severe pulmonary complications in the MIS group were remarkably decreased compared to the CDC group. In the MIS group, the survivors' (ADL) grade also showed advantages. CONCLUSIONS: In the surgical treatment of hypertensive ICH complicated with tentorial herniation, frame-based stereotactic MIS for ICH showed advantages compared to conventional open surgery.

Computed Tomographic Black Hole Sign Predicts Postoperative Rehemorrhage in Patients with Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhage Following Stereotactic Minimally Invasive Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Determining the value of the computed tomographic black hole sign in predicting postoperative rehemorrhage in patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS). METHODS: Two hundred ninety-five patients with spontaneous ICH underwent stereotactic MIS within 24 hours after admission. Ninety-eight patients (33%) demonstrated a black hole sign on initial computed tomography (CT). Postoperative rehemorrhage occurred in 68 patients (named the rehemorrhage group, including patients with and without black hole sign) and the other 227 patients (non-rehemorrhage group) did not show rehemorrhage. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the values of the black hole sign. RESULTS: Postoperative rehemorrhage occurred in 57 of the 98 (58.2%) patients with the black hole sign, and in 11 of the 197 (5.58%) patients without the black hole sign. In the rehemorrhage group, 39 patients (57.4%) were found to have the black hole sign. However, only 59 patients (25.99%) from the non-rehemorrhage group showed the black hole sign. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the black hole sign for predicting postoperative rehemorrhage were 57.4%, 74%, 39.8%, and 85.3%, respectively. The odd ratio for the black hole sign, the hematoma irregularity, and the CT value for predicting the postoperative rehemorrhage were 10.501, 9.631, and 4.750, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The black hole sign on initial CT could predict the postoperative rehemorrhage following the minimally invasive procedures.

The perihematomal glutamate level is associated with the outcome of patients with basal ganglia hematomas treated by minimally invasive procedures.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to provide pathophysiological evidence for the time window of minimally invasive (MI) procedures for evacuating intracerebral hematoma by observing the perihematomal glutamate level and its correlation with the outcome of the patients treated with MI surgery. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the basal ganglia were assigned to either a medical treatment group (MT group, 20 patients) or a minimally invasive treatment group (MI group, 80 patients). The intracerebral hematoma was evacuated using stereotactic MI surgery within 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, or 24 hours of symptom onset based on the interval between the initial hemorrhage to the patients' arrival at the hospital. Perihematomal glutamate levels and brain water content were measured in 10 randomly selected patients in each MI subgroup. The outcome of the patients was determined by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Modified Ranking Scale (MRS) within 6 months after admission. RESULTS: The perihematomal glutamate levels and brain water content increased gradually as the intervals from symptom onset to surgery were prolonged. Minimally invasive surgery at all the investigated time points could improve the neurological functions. Performing the MI procedures in 6 hours showed the most remarkable decrease of NIHSS and MRS, and secondarily in 12 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive surgery could be effective in the treatment of patients with ICH. The optimal time window for MI surgery may be within 6-12 hours of symptom onset.

Effects of minimally invasive techniques for evacuation of hematoma in basal ganglia on cortical spinal tract from patients with spontaneous hemorrhage: observed by diffusion tensor imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of minimally invasive removal of intracranial hematoma in basal ganglia on cortical spinal tract (CST). METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in basal ganglia were selected and divided into a minimally invasive treatment group (13 patients) and a medical treatment group (14 patients) randomly: the volume of hematoma was 30-50 ml, with an average of 39.20 ± 4.85 ml in minimally invasive group and 38.70 ± 6.33 ml in medical treatment group. All patients underwent the whole brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in 1 week after onset; fractional anistropy (FA) values of CST in internal capsule and cerebral peduncle ipsilateral and contralateral to the hematoma side in minimally invasive group were determined and then compared with those in medical treatment group. RESULTS: The minimally invasive treatment group showed that FA values of CST in internal capsule and cerebral peduncle on the affected side were 0.524 ± 0.045 and 0.534 ± 0.020, respectively, and in medical treatment group, FA values were 0.425 ± 0.050 and 0.468 ± 0.040, respectively. FA values of internal capsule and cerebral peduncle CST in minimally invasive treatment group were significantly increased as compared with the medical treatment group, and a significant difference was noted. In minimally invasive group, we obtained pre-operative DTI in five patients; FA values of CST in internal capsule and cerebral peduncle ipsilateral to the hemorrhage side were 0.428 ± 0.032 and 0.515 ± 0.048, respectively, 1 week after the hematoma was evacuated FA values of CST in internal capsule and cerebral peduncle increased significantly. Therefore, minimally invasive surgery for evacuation of intracranial hematomas could reduce the damages to CST. At the same time, the CST which was oppressed and displaced by hematoma restored to normal position largely or completely after the minimally invasive removal of intracranial hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: The changes of CST could be visualized by DTI in patients with ICH. Minimally invasive removal of intracranial hematoma could effectively reduce the injury to the CST and could restore the CST which was oppressed and displaced by the hematoma to the normal position.