Lobe Hematoma Research Articles

A new NOTCH3 mutation presenting as primary intracerebral haemorrhage

Primary intracerebral haemorrhages (PICH) are defined as haemorrhages within the brain parenchyma in the absence of readily identifiable causes. CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) is a hereditary vascular disease and its mainly clinical manifestations are early-onset infarcts. Spontaneous lobar haematomas are a rare occurrence. We report a very unusual presentation of CADASIL in a 65year-old man carrying a new NOTCH3 mutation. The clinical onset of the disease was related to an intracerebral haematoma following colon surgery and causing a delirium. In brief, our report suggests that CADASIL must be considered in patient with PICH.

Surgical trial in lobar intracerebral haemorrhage (STICH II) protocol.

BackgroundWithin the spectrum of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage there are some patients with large or space occupying haemorrhage who require surgery for neurological deterioration and others with small haematomas who should be managed conservatively. There is equipoise about the management of patients between these two extremes. In particular there is some evidence that patients with lobar haematomas and no intraventricular haemorrhage might benefit from haematoma evacuation. The STICH II study will establish whether a policy of earlier surgical evacuation of the haematoma in selected patients will improve outcome compared to a policy of initial conservative treatment.Methods/Designan international multicentre randomised parallel group trial. Only patients for whom the treating neurosurgeon is in equipoise about the benefits of early craniotomy compared to initial conservative treatment are eligible. All patients must have a CT scan confirming spontaneous lobar intracerebral haemorrhage (≤1 cm from the cortex surface of the brain and 10-100 ml in volume). Any clotting or coagulation problems must be corrected and randomisation must take place within 48 hours of ictus. With 600 patients, the study will be able to demonstrate a 12% benefit from surgery (2p < 0.05) with 80% power.Stratified randomisation is undertaken using a central 24 hour randomisation service accessed by telephone or web. Patients randomised to early surgery should have the operation within 12 hours. Information about the status (Glasgow Coma Score and focal signs) of all patients through the first five days of their trial progress is also collected in addition to another CT scan at about five days (+/- 2 days). Outcome is measured at six months via a postal questionnaire to the patient. Primary outcome is death or severe disability defined using a prognosis based 8 point Glasgow Outcome Scale. Secondary outcomes include: Mortality, Rankin, Barthel, EuroQol, and Survival.Trial RegistrationISRCTN: ISRCTN22153967

Histopathological analysis of cerebral hemorrhage in systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with antiphospholipid syndrome

A 53-year-old woman was admitted due to akinetic mutism and fever. On admission, brain computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large hemorrhagic lesion in the left anterior lobe that required surgical operation for total removal. Her neuropsychiatric manifestation was not attenuated after the operation, and was gradually ameliorated by high doses of corticosteroid thereafter, suggesting a diagnosis of lupus psychosis. Histopathological examination revealed a necrotizing vasculature, sometimes with a disrupted lamina elastica interna, completely filled with thrombi and infiltrated with inflammatory cells and their debris. It is therefore suggested that the large frontal lobe hematoma in our patient was induced by thrombosis and arteritis in the subarachnoid space.

Long-Lasting Narrowing of the Parent Artery after Bilateral Clipping of Mirror-image Aneurysms of Distal Anterior Cerebral Arteries: A Case Report

Because multiple intracranial aneurysms are not rare, accurate preoperative detection of asymptomatic aneurysms is important. In this paper, we report a ruptured distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysm associated with an unruptured mirror-image aneurysm in a 62-year-old man presenting with headache. Although delayed vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage has been reported to persist for 2 to 3 weeks, angiographic parent artery narrowing was far more prolonged in our case. Computed tomography revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the interhemispheric and right sylvian fissures and a right frontal lobe hematoma. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated bilateral symmetric saccular aneurysms of DACAs. On the day of admission, both aneurysms were clipped using an interhemispheric approach in a one-stage procedure, and the hematoma was aspirated. Angiography performed 8 days after the surgery demonstrated a residual aneurysm neck on the left side. Follow-up digital subtraction angiography performed on day 42 from onset showed resolution of the residual aneurysm neck along with narrowing of the left A2. However, at 7 months, the A2 narrowing had lessened. The location of the bilateral aneurysms near the midline facilitated a single approach but necessitated the application of juxtaposed clips. Regarding the pathogenesis of the bilateral aneurysms, previous reports have suggested symmetry of congenital anatomic defects and hemodynamic stress as potential causes. The persistent narrowing that was observed could have resulted from proliferative vasculopathy or from fibrosis possibly induced by the clips.

Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Association with Large Hematoma Volume and Poor Outcome

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with both a risk of adverse vascular outcome and a risk of bleeding. We have tested the hypothesis that in the setting of an acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), CKD is associated with poor outcome and with larger hematoma volume. Methods: We examined the association between CKD and ICH characteristics and outcome within a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients hospitalized with an acute stroke and followed for 1 year. CKD was categorized by the estimated baseline glomerular filtration rate into moderate/severe impairment (<45), mild impairment (45–60) and no impairment (>60 ml/min/1.73 m²). Results: Among 128 patients with an ICH (mean age = 71.7 ± 12.3 years, 41.4% women) 46.1% had CKD (23.4% mild and 22.7% moderate/severe). Patients with moderate/severe impairment had >4-fold adjusted hazard ratio for mortality over 1 year (4.29; 95% CI = 1.69–10.90) compared to patients with no impairment. The hematoma volumes [median (25–75%)] were 15.3 ml (5.4–37.5) in patients with no impairment, 16.6 (6.8–36.9) in mild impairment and 50.2 (10.4–109.1) in moderate/severe impairment (p = 0.009). The location of the hematoma was lobar in 12% with no impairment, 17% with mild impairment and 39% with moderate/severe impairment (p = 0.02). Patients with moderate/severe impairment exhibited a 2.3-fold higher hematoma volume (p = 0.04) and a >6-fold higher odds of lobar location (95% CI = 1.59–24.02) as compared to no impairment. Further adjustment for antiplatelet use and for presence of leukoaraiosis attenuated the association with hematoma volume (p = 0.15), while moderate/severe impairment was associated with an adjusted OR of 5.35 (95% CI = 1.18–24.14) for lobar location. Conclusions: Presence of moderate/severe CKD among patients with ICH is associated with larger, lobar hematomas and with poor outcome.

MRI Markers of Small Vessel Disease in Lobar and Deep Hemispheric Intracerebral Hemorrhage

MRI evidence of small vessel disease is common in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We hypothesized that ICH caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) or hypertensive vasculopathy would have different distributions of MRI T2 white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and microbleeds. Data were analyzed from 133 consecutive patients with primary supratentorial ICH and adequate MRI sequences. CAA was diagnosed using the Boston criteria. WMH segmentation was performed using a validated semiautomated method. WMH and microbleeds were compared according to site of symptomatic hematoma origin (lobar versus deep) or by pattern of hemorrhages, including both hematomas and microbleeds, on MRI gradient recalled echo sequence (grouped as lobar only-probable CAA, lobar only-possible CAA, deep hemispheric only, or mixed lobar and deep hemorrhages). Patients with lobar and deep hemispheric hematoma had similar median normalized WMH volumes (19.5 cm versus 19.9 cm(3), P=0.74) and prevalence of >or=1 microbleed (54% versus 52%, P=0.99). The supratentorial WMH distribution was similar according to hemorrhage location category; however, the prevalence of brain stem T2 hyperintensity was lower in lobar hematoma versus deep hematoma (54% versus 70%, P=0.004). Mixed ICH was common (23%). Patients with mixed ICH had large normalized WMH volumes and a posterior distribution of cortical hemorrhages similar to that seen in CAA. WMH distribution is largely similar between CAA-related and non-CAA-related ICH. Mixed lobar and deep hemorrhages are seen on MRI gradient recalled echo sequence in up to one fourth of patients; in these patients, both hypertension and CAA may be contributing to the burden of WMH.

Stroke in patients with migraine

Background and purposeMigraine with aura (MA) is considered as a risk factor for ischaemic stroke. The present observational retrospective study compares migraine patients admitted for a documented stroke with those presenting focal neurological symptoms and headache without a demonstrable lesion and in which the final diagnosis was a migraine attack with aura. Material and methodsThe study included 14 migraine patients with a stroke and 37 without a stroke. The clinical characteristics, the vascular risk factors and the results of the technical examinations were compared. ResultsStroke occurred in migraine patients with aura as well as without aura. Classical vascular risk factors were rather rare. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) with or without atrial septum aneurysm appeared to be the main risk factor for stroke in patients with a history of migraine. Infarcts were mainly located in the supratentorial territory of the posterior cerebral circulation. Also some lobar haematomas were observed, but their aetiology remained uncertain. The strokes were generally mildly severe with good outcome. Hyperintense signals in the cerebral white matter and cerebellum, on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, were more frequent in the migraine patients with stroke. ConclusionsThe presence of PFO, rather than of MA, appeared to be the main risk factor for stroke patients with migraine. No direct relation between migraine and stroke could be demonstrated.

Rapid Spontaneous Resolution of Neurological Signs and Cerebral Herniation Caused by Intracerebral Hemorrhage -Case Report-

A 47-year-old man presented with sudden consciousness disturbance and left hemiplegia caused by intracerebral hemorrhage. Initial computed tomography (CT) showed a massive subcortical right temporoparietal lobe hematoma and signs of impending uncal herniation. However, he became alert and his hemiplegia improved considerably in the course of 2 hours, so conservative treatment was preferred over surgical intervention. Follow-up CT acquired on the next day revealed dramatic diminution of the intracerebral hemorrhage. Small intracerebral hemorrhages occasionally produce transient symptoms with or without disappearance of the hematoma, but the present patient had a large hematoma that decreased in size within a short time with rapid improvement of the symptoms attributed to the hematoma. The mechanism underlying the diminution of the hematoma may be related to redistribution by cerebrospinal fluid flow.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: Unusual Imaging Appearance

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) has widely varied clinical and radiological manifestations ranging from asymptomatic minimal brain oedema to severe haemorrhagic infarcts associated with focal deficits, coma and even death. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis presenting with lobar or subdural hematomas are rare and the cause may easily be overlooked. We present a case of CVST with an atypical radiological picture of intra-arenchymal, subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Quality of Life After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Neurological impairment and physical disability are frequent and important complications of stroke with serious consequences for health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Little data exist, however, on the risk factors for poor HRQOL after intracerebral hemorrhage, the deadliest and most disabling form of stroke. Factor Seven for Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke (FAST) was an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted between May 2005 and February 2007 at 122 sites in 22 countries. All patients were followed for 3 months after stroke onset and HRQOL was assessed using the EuroQoL. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression was used to identify predictors of poor HRQOL based on demographic and clinical baseline characteristics and in-hospital complications. Six hundred fifty-seven patients survived until 3 months after stroke onset, and 621 (95%) completed the EuroQoL. Two percent had a utility score <0 (HRQOL worse than death), 15% a utility score <0.2, 32% a utility score <0.5, and 87% a score <0.87 (average score in the general population). At the other end of the scale, 13% had a utility score of 1 (perfect HRQOL). Independent predictors of poor HRQOL were advanced age (OR, 1.80; P<0.0001), higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (OR, 1.11; P<0.0001), higher systolic blood pressure (OR, 1.05; P=0.0039), higher baseline intracerebral hemorrhage volume (OR, 1.11; P=0.015), deep (versus lobar) hematoma location (OR, 3.05; P=0.003), and increase in neurological deficit in first 72 hours after ICH onset (Delta Glasgow Coma Scale >or=2 or Delta National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale >or=4; OR, 2.04; P=0.006). The model explained a large amount of the variation in the utility score (C-statistic 0.77). The vast majority of survivors after intracerebral hemorrhage have very poor HRQOL. Critical care interventions designed to control blood pressure or prevent neuroworsening may improve HRQOL in intracerebral hemorrhage survivors.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: micro‐haemorrhages demonstrated by magnetic resonance susceptibility‐weighted imaging

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: micro‐haemorrhages demonstrated by magnetic resonance susceptibility‐weighted imaging

Advances in intracerebral haemorrhage management

Intracerebral haemorrhage accounts for 10-15% of strokes and is associated with high mortality and severe disability in survivors. Despite its seriousness, the treatment options for intracerebral haemorrhage are limited. Measures aimed at decreasing elevated intracranial pressure are of limited effectiveness. This has stimulated an interest in attempting to improve the prognosis of intracerebral haemorrhage by addressing the haematoma directly, either removing it by surgical means or limiting its early spontaneous growth. The international Surgical Trial in Intracerebral Haemorrhage (STICH), which randomized subjects with intracerebral haemorrhage within 72 h of symptom onset to medical management vs. surgery, failed to document the superiority of one treatment over the other, when compared with regard to mortality and functional outcome at 90 days. The subgroup of patients with lobar haematomas located at a depth of 1 cm or less from the cortical surface fared better with surgery than with medical management. A similar comparison trial is planned for this subgroup of patients. The neutral results of The international Surgical Trial in Intracerebral Haemorrhage (STICH) prompted the assessment of haemostatic therapies, based on the observation that haematomas often enlarge substantially in the hours that follow the onset of symptoms. Recombinant activated factor VII has been shown in a phase IIb, dose-finding trial to result in a significant reduction of haematoma growth, and both mortality and functional scales trended in favour of recombinant activated factor VIIa. The main complication of this therapy was arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke). A phase III randomized trial has recently been completed.

Bovine Related Head Trauma in Tema- A Case Report.

Objective and Importance: The trauma literature rarely addresses injuries related to livestock. We report a case of penetrating head injury caused by a bovine, discuss the presentation and management and review the literature on livestock related injuries. Clinical Presentation: We report the case of a 47-year old man who presented with mental status changes and a scalp laceration. A head CT scan revealed a left temporal bone non-depressed skull fracture, pneumocephalus, an intraaxial temporal lobe hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Intervention: The patient was treated non-operatively with antibiotics and Nimodopine. He became symptom free with radiographic resolution of the intracranial lesion. Reviewing the literature, we found that there were no reports of head trauma caused by bovines in Ghana. Conclusion: Ideal management of bovine related head injury includes treatment in a well resourced center and an educational program of preventive measures. Keywords : head injury, skull fracture, bovine Nigerian Journal of Orthopaedics and Trauma Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 88-90

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la hemorragia intracerebral espontánea. Parte II: Hemorragia infratentorial

Spontaneous intracerebral haematoma (SICH) represents one the most severe subtypes of ictus. However, and despite a high incidence, medical treatment is almost limited to life support and to control intracranial hypertension and indications of surgical treatment are poorly defined. The aim of this paper was to review the evidence supporting surgical evacuation of SICH. Ten clinical trials and five meta-analyses studying the results of surgical treatment on this pathology were found on English literature. These studies considered all together, failed to show a significant benefit of surgical evacuation in patients with SICH considered as a whole. However, a subgroup of these patients has been considered to potentially present a better outcome after surgical treatment. Current recommendations on supratentorial intra-cerebral haemorrhage state that young patients with lobar haematomas causing deterioration on the level of consciousness should be operated on. Patients suffering from putaminal haematomas and fitting with the same criteria of age and neurological deterioration could also benefit from surgery, at least on terms of survival. Deep neurological deterioration with GCS<5, thalamic location, severe functional deterioration on basal condition or advanced age precluding an adequate functional outcome, have been traditionally considered criteria contraindicating surgery. Given the absence of strong scientific evidence to indicate surgery, this measure should be taken on a tailored manner, and taking into account the social-familiar environment of the patient, that will strongly condition his/her future quality of life.

A novel mutation in the PSEN1 gene (L286P) associated with familial early‐onset dementia of Alzheimer type and lobar haematomas

The aim of this study was to describe a novel mutation in exon 8 of the presenilin gene (L286P) associated with early-onset autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (AD) and lobar haematomas. The proband was a woman who developed cognitive decline with predominant memory loss at the age of 35 years. The patient died at the age of 54 years and the neuropathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of AD. Three of her four siblings, one parent and one sibling of her parent had suffered from cognitive decline at ages between 35 and 42 years. Three of them also presented lobar haematomas. The neuropathological examination, available in one of them, disclosed the presence of severe amyloid angiopathy as the cause of the haematoma. The study of PSEN1 gene with single strand conformation polymorphism technique failed to show abnormalities suggestive of mutations. Direct sequencing disclosed the presence of a missense mutation in codon 286 (L286P) in the proband and her already affected descendent, which was absent in the healthy sibling. L286P is a novel mutation in PSEN1 that causes familial early-onset AD and brain haematomas related to amyloid angiopathy.

Seizures and epilepsy in patients with a spontaneous intracerebral haematoma

Background Seizures occur more frequently in patients with an intracerebral haematoma (ICH) than in those with a cerebral infarct. However, the risk factors for seizures in association with an ICH are less well known. Purpose The characteristics of medically treated patients with spontaneous ICHs, who developed seizures, were retrospectively compared to those who did not. Patients Fourteen patients were admitted to the Stroke Unit during 2004–2006 for seizures related to an ICH. Their characteristics were compared to those of 51 patients admitted during 2002–2004 for an ICH without subsequent seizures. Results Early-onset seizures, occurring within 48 h of stroke onset, were observed in six patients with ICH related epileptic spells (42.9%). Late-onset ones occurred in eight patients, on average 8 months after the ICH. A focal onset of the seizures was documented in 75.7% of cases. Status epilepticus was observed in 21.4% of the patients. The seizures recurred in only 28.6% of the patients. Lobar haematomas were present in 78.6% of the seizure group, compared to 21.4% in the control group ( P = 0.008). In the former group a frontal lobe involvement was present in 57.1% compared to 9.8% in the latter group ( P < 0.001). On the post-ictal EEG, intermittent rhythmic delta activities were observed in 28.6% and periodic lateralized epileptic discharges in 21.4% of the seizure patients. Conclusions Seizures are more prone to occur in patients with frontal lobar haematomas. EEG can be helpful for the diagnosis of seizures in approximately 50% of the cases.

ANEURYSMS OF THE DISTAL ANTERIOR CEREBRAL ARTERY

Abstract OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to present the clinical and radiological characteristics, surgical management, and outcome in a large series of patients with aneurysms of the distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) managed in the microsurgical era. METHODS The records of 1109 patients with anterior circulation aneurysms managed at the authors' institution between 1970 and 1998 were reviewed. RESULTS Fifty-nine patients (5.3%) were identified with 67 DACA aneurysms. Seventy-three percent of the patients were women. The mean age of all patients was 47 years. Multiple aneurysms were identified in 51% of all patients, most commonly on the middle cerebral artery. Thirty-six patients had ruptured DACA aneurysms and 23 had unruptured aneurysms. In those with ruptured aneurysms, the admission grade was Grade I in 10 patients (27.8%), Grade II in three patients (8.3%), Grade III in 10 patients (27.8%), Grade IV in seven patients (19.4%), and Grade V in six patients (16.7%). Frontal lobe hematomas occurred in 28% of the patients with ruptured aneurysms and carried a poor prognosis. In those with unruptured aneurysms, 11 were incidental and 12 were identified after a subarachnoid hemorrhage from another aneurysm. The mean diameter was 10 mm in ruptured aneurysms and 5.8 mm in unruptured aneurysms. Fifty-eight patients underwent surgery and one patient was treated with endovascular coiling. Six patients, all with ruptured aneurysms, died. Seventy percent of survivors with ruptured aneurysms had a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION DACA aneurysms possess a number of characteristics that distinguish them from the more common intracranial aneurysms. With modern neurosurgical and endovascular techniques, an acceptable operative morbidity and mortality can be achieved.

Determinants of early outcome in spontaneous lobar cerebral hemorrhage

To identify determinants of early outcome in spontaneous lobar hemorrhage. From 2500 acute stroke patients included in a prospective hospital-based stroke registry over a 12-year period, 97 cases of lobar hematoma were selected. Determinants of in-hospital mortality were studied in multiple regression models. Lobar hematomas accounted for 3.9% of all acute stroke patients and 35.9% of intracerebral hemorrhages. The presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was a significant predictive variable in the model based on demographic variables and vascular risk factors [odds ratio (OR): 17.18; 95% CI: 1.77-166.22] and in the model based on these variables plus clinical data (OR: 15.12; 95% CI: 1.27-179.59). Other predictive variables included altered consciousness, previous cerebral infarct and chronic liver disease. COPD appeared as the most important predictor of death during hospitalization after lobar cerebral hemorrhage, a finding not generally acknowledged earlier.

Perihematoma damage at different time points in experimental intracerebral hemorrhage

The damage degree of neurons in perilesion at different time points was observed in order to explore the optimal operation occasion. Piglet lobar hematomas were produced by pressure-controlled infusions of 2.5 mL autonomous blood into the right frontal hemispheric white matter over 15 min, and the metabolic changes were ambulatorily detected with MRS at 3rd, 12th, 24th and 48th h after hematoma induction. Brain tissues of perihematoma were also obtained at different time points. The transcription level of Bax gene was detected by in situ hybridization and apoptosis by TUNEL technique, and the pathologic change of neurons was observed under an electron microscope. The results showed that the number of Bax positive cells reached the peak at 24 h (79.00 +/- 4.243/5 fields). There was no significant difference in A values between 3 h and 6 h, 12 h (P > 0.05), but there significant difference between 24 h and 3 h, 6 h, 12 h (P < 0.05). The number of apoptotic cells reached the peak at 24 h (P < 0.001), and there was no significant difference between 3 h and 6 h (P = 0.999). The area of the apoptotic cells showed no significant difference between 3 h and 6 h or among 3 h, 6 h and 6 h (P > 0.05). Lac peak mainly occurred at 24 h and 48 h, while on the healthy side, no Lac peak was detectable. The ratio of NAA/Cr presented a descent tendency, but there was no significant difference among the groups before 12 h (P > 0.05), there was very significant difference between 3, 6 and 24, 48 h (P < 0.01). Under electronic microscopy, the neuronal damage surrounding hematoma in 3 to 6 h was milder than in 24 h to 48 h. It was concluded that the secondary apoptosis, damage and metabolic disturbance of the neurons surrounding hematoma was milder in 3-6 h in acute intracerebral hemorrhage, while obviously aggravated in 24-48 h. An effective intervention is needed to reduce secondary damage as soon as possible.

Hemostatic Treatment in the Early Stage of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Section Editors: Marc Fisher MD Antoni Da valos MD The treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been a largely neglected item. In contrast to literally dozens of clinical trials of treatment of ischemic stroke, only a handful have addressed treatment of ICH with either medical (steroids,1 osmotic diuretics2) or surgical3 interventions. The medical intervention trials, primarily aimed at reducing brain edema surrounding the ICH, have shown lack of benefit of treatment with dexamethasone1 or glycerol solutions.2 Although some pilot data suggested a potential benefit of early surgical drainage of the hematoma,4,5 the recent publication of neutral results in the large, prospective, and randomized international Surgical Trial in Intracerebral Hemorrhage (STICH) study6 has been a disappointment. Mendelow and colleagues went for 8 years of enrollment and follow up of over 500 subjects in each treatment group, one managed “conservatively,” the other subjected to surgical drainage of the hematoma within a maximum of 4 days from symptom onset. The final results showed no benefit of one mode of treatment over the other, because a favorable outcome occurred as frequently in the “conservative” (24%) as in the surgical (26%) group when they were evaluated at 6 months. Although a prespecified subgroup analysis suggested a possible advantage of surgical treatment for superficially located (≤1 cm from the cortical surface) lobar hematomas, the overall trial results showed that only one fourth of patients with ICH can be expected to have a good clinical outcome, which cannot be improved on by surgical treatment. In the wake of the neutral STICH trial results, it is refreshing to see some hope for the treatment of this devastating stroke subtype with the publication of the results of the phase IIB trial of recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in ICH. …