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Frameless stereotactic aspiration and thrombolysis of deep intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with reduction of hemorrhage volume and neurological improvement

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Abstract

Introduction: This ia a phase-2 safety trial to demonstrate the ability of frameless stereotactic aspiration and thrombolysis of ICH to safely remove blood.

Methods: Patients with ICH in the deep basal ganglia and internal capsule of >5 cc volume were consented to undergo computed tomographic imaging for frameless stereotactic guidance registration. Using the frameless stereotactic (CT) guidance, a 4-mm diameter catheter was inserted into the body of the hematoma using a frontal burr hole approach. The catheter was aspirated and then flushed with saline and aspirated to remove unclotted blood. After a confirmatory CT scan to localize the catheter, 1 mg of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) was infused into the clot, permitted to bathe the clot for 30 minutes, and then drained into a closed circuit collection system. t-PA was infused every 8 hours for 48 hours. A follow up CT scan was obtained at 48 hours.

Results: 28 patients with ICH (mean age 67.1) were admitted and underwent the procedure. Mean initial ICH volume was 54.6 cc ± 37.8. Mean time from onset to aspiration was 44 hours (range 7–180). Mean initial NIH Stroke scale (NIHSS) score was 24 (range 15–33). Compared with initial CT scan, there was a mean reduction of ICH volume by 77 ± 13% on final CT scan (p<0.0002). Compared with initial NIHSS, the discharge mean NIHSS (16 ± 6) was significantly improved (p<0.001). There were no infectious, hemodynamic or neurologic complications. There were no episodes of symptomatic hemorrhagic enlargement and one case of asymptomatic bleeding along the catheter tract.

Conclusion: Frameless stereotactic aspiration and thrombolysis (FAST) of deep spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is a safe therapy that is associated with reduction in ICH volume, early improvement in NIHSS and potentially could be used to improve outcome.

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Correspondence to Paul Vespa.

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Vespa, P., McArthur, D., Miller, C. et al. Frameless stereotactic aspiration and thrombolysis of deep intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with reduction of hemorrhage volume and neurological improvement. Neurocrit Care 2, 274–281 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1385/NCC:2:3:274

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