Rapid pore cranial drilling and ventricular drainage in the treatment of ventricular hemorrhage caused by thalamic hemorrhage: an analysis of 401 cases

Abstract

To summarize the clinical efficacies and experiences of using rapid pore cranial drilling and external ventricular drainage (EVD) in the treatment of ventricular hemorrhage caused by thalamic hemorrhage. Retrospective analysis was conducted for 401 patients at 5 hospitals from May 1983 to December 2010. They underwent EVD with an infusion of urokinase for intraventricular hemorrhage caused by thalamic hemorrhage. There were 212 males and 189 females with an age range of 19 - 78 years. After a 1-month therapy, the outcomes were cure 147/401 (36.7%), improvement 192/401 (47.9%) and others (death and against-advice discharge) 62/401 (15.4%). After 1-3-month treatment, their prognoses were evaluated by activity of daily living (ADL): ADLI 147/401, ADLII 82/401, ADLIII 76/401, ADLIV 19/401, ADLV 15/401, death 43/401 and against-advice discharge 19/401. During a follow-up period of 1 - 3 years, 274 patients showed the following outcomes: ADLI 122/243, ADLII 63/243, ADLIII 58/243 while 31 patients died from pulmonary infection. The procedure of EVD (including an infusion of urokinase) with rapid pore cranial drilling is preferred treatment for ventricular hemorrhage caused by thalamic hemorrhage.