on January 22, 2004
Published online before print January 22, 2004, doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000113736.73632.F6
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Submitted on October 27, 2003
From the Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Treviso Hospital, Treviso (P.L.L., A.F., L.M., A.C.), and "E. Medea" Scientific Institute, Conegliano Research Centre, Conegliano (A.M.), Italy. * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: andrea.martinuzzi{at}cn.lnf.it.
Background and Purpose--We reviewed our 7-year experience in neuroendoscopic management of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) to evaluate its safety, efficiency, and efficacy. Methods--Thirteen patients with spontaneous primary or secondary tetraventricular IVH underwent neuroendoscopy. In all procedures, we used a flexible instrument. CT scans obtained before and after surgery were compared for Graeb score and ventriculocranial ratio. Glasgow Outcome Scale was assessed at 12 months. Results--In all patients, the procedure resulted in a substantial removal of ventricular blood. Graeb score was reduced by 65%, and ventriculocranial ratio was reduced by 30% (P<0.002). The procedure was carried out safely even in the presence of a vascular malformation, and no rebleeding or delayed hydrocephalus was observed in any case. Mortality at 12 months was 30.7%. Favorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale, 3 to 5) was observed in 61.5% of cases. Conclusions--Neuroendoscopic management of severe IVH in this cohort of patients was safe, efficiently reduced the amount of ventricular blood and ventricular dilatation, and effectively produced an outcome profile that compares very favorably with other more conventional treatments.
Accepted on November 3, 2003
Neuroendoscopic Management of Intraventricular Hemorrhage
P. L. Longatti MD;
Key words: endoscopy • intraventricular hemorrhage