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Management of intracerebral hemorrhage

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Abstract

Following quickly behind improvements in acute ischemic stroke care have been important advances in the understanding and management of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Among these are accurate diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) during life, recognition of the association between CAA and warfarin-related ICH, use of newer hemostatic treatments, and the combination of minimally invasive surgery with hematoma thrombolysis. Currently recommended management includes prompt evaluation of the patient at a facility with stroke and neurosurgical expertise, consideration of early surgery for patients with clinical deterioration or cerebellar hemorrhages larger than 3 cm, and early treatment of coagulopathies and other neurologic and medical complications. Over the past 2 years, two major randomized studies in ICH (comparing early surgery with best medical management and testing the utility of hemostatic treatment within 4 hours using recombinant factor VIIa) have yielded neutral results. This review focuses on comprehensive management of ICH in light of recent evidence.

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  1. Harvard Medical School, Hemorrhagic Stroke Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, 175 Cambridge Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Steven M. Greenberg

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  1. Mahmut Edip Gurol
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  2. Steven M. Greenberg
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Correspondence to Steven M. Greenberg.

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Gurol, M.E., Greenberg, S.M. Management of intracerebral hemorrhage. Curr Atheroscler Rep 10, 324–331 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-008-0050-y

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