Comparative Analysis of the Patients with Spontaneous Thalamic Hemorrhage with Concurrent Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Those without Intraventricular Hemorrhage

The impact of neuroendoscopic drainage in intraventricular hemorrhage: an updated meta-analysis

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is a mainstay for intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) treatment, improving ventricular clearance and reducing mortality but with suboptimal complications and morbidity. Meanwhile, several studies have shown that neuroendoscopic drainage (NED) provides superior results and is a promising therapy. Thus, we aimed to compare NED and EVD in patients with IVH. A systematic literature review was conducted using Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases. The primary outcome was shunt dependency. Secondary outcomes were infection, length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, mortality, and functional outcome. Inclusion criteria: studies comparing NED and EVD with predefined outcomes. Exclusion criteria: age < five years. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio 2024.04.1 + 748. Sensitivity analysis was performed with subgroup analysis. The risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I and RoB-2. Of 234 potential articles, 17 met our criteria, involving 1043 patients, with 495 undergoing NED and 548 receiving only EVD. Patients who underwent NED had lower odds of shunt dependency (OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.12,0.25; p < 0.001), infection (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.16,0.53; p < 0.001), and mortality at one month (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.20,0.96; p = 0.039) and six months (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.16,0.58; p < 0.001), shorter hospital (MD -6.02; 95% CI -9.58,-2.45; p < 0.001) and ICU stay (MD -6.64; 95% CI -10.46,-2.83; p < 0.001), and better functional outcomes according to Glasgow Outcome Scale (MD -0.65; 95% CI -0.98,-0.32; p < 0.001) and modified Rankin Scale (MD -1.25; 95% CI -1.90,-0.60; p < 0.001) compared to patients who underwent EVD. To confirm the robustness of the results, we performed sensitivity analyses with subgroups of the RCT, which also showed significant superiority of NED over EVD. Our results suggest that NED has a positive impact on patients with IVH and may be a breakthrough intervention in this scenario.

Minimally Invasive Puncture and Drainage Surgery for the Treatment of Thalamic Hemorrhage Guided by a 3D-printed Guide Plate

Thalamic hemorrhage is a type of intracerebral hemorrhage with high disability and mortality rates. Because of its deep bleeding location, irregular shape of the hematoma, and compression of the third ventricle, it is not suitable for craniotomy. This paper reports a case of a 63-year-old male patient who sought medical attention for left-sided basal ganglia and thalamus hemorrhage that broke into the ventricles. Upon admission, the patient exhibited impaired consciousness and was diagnosed with thalamic hemorrhage accompanied by ventricular hemorrhage through the head CT and CTA scan. To address the patient's unique circumstances, a 3D-printed guide plate was utilized to guide the puncture and drainage surgery, thereby ensuring a relatively smooth and less traumatic process. After the surgery, the patient's consciousness recovered well, and there was significant improvement in clinical indicators. This case demonstrates that a 3D-printed guide plate has the advantage of precise localization and minimal trauma in guiding thalamic hemorrhage surgery, showing promising clinical application prospects and being worthy of promotion in future clinical practice.

The efficacy of neuroendoscopic surgery treating patients with thalamic hemorrhage accompanied by intraventricular hematoma

Objective

Neuroendoscopic surgery (NES) has been proven to be safe and effective in hematoma evacuation for cerebral hemorrhage. However, its efficacy for thalamic hemorrhage accompanied by intraventricular hematoma (THAVH) remains unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of NES in treating THAVH.

Method

A retrospective study was carried out. The data of patients diagnosed with THAVH were collected from January 1st, 2019, to January 1st, 2022. Patients received the NES or external ventricle drainage (EVD) treatment were assigned to the NES or EVD group, respectively. As primary outcomes, the hematoma evacuation volume, residual hematoma volume, and hematoma clearance rate were separately calculated based on the hematoma site; and the 180-day-mRS score was assessed. As secondary outcomes, the length of stay in the ICU and hospital, and the adverse events were also compared.

Results

Thirty-five patients, aged 66.37 ± 6.62 years, were in the NES group; and 40 patients, aged 68.75 ± 7.22 years, were in the EVD group. The baseline characteristics in the two groups were similar (P > 0.05). The gross hematoma evacuation volume, volume of hematoma evacuated in the thalamus or the ventricle, and the hematoma clearance rate were greater in the NES group than in the EVD group on the 1st day after surgery (P < 0.05). The patients had a better rank of mRS in the NES group (P < 0.05). Compared with patients with mRS > 3, the mean residual hematoma volume in the thalamus of patients with mRS ≤3 on the 1st and 7th day were less in each group (P < 0.05), respectively. A residual hematoma volume in the ventricle of patients with mRS ≤3 was less than that of patients with mRS >3 in the EVD group on the 1st day after surgery (P < 0.05). GCS score on the 3rd day was greater in the NES group (P < 0.05). The incidence of lung infection was lower in the NES group (P < 0.05). The length of stay in the ICU and hospitalization duration were shorter in the NES group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Neuroendoscopic surgery has a greater hematoma clearance rate, a lower lung infection rate and a shorter duration in the hospital. Neuroendoscopic surgery might improve patients' prognosis. Neuroendoscopic surgery is a safe and effective procedure for treating thalamic hemorrhage accompanied by intraventricular hematoma.

Treatment of post-thalamic hemorrhage hydrocephalus: ventriculoperitoneal shunt or endoscopic third ventriculostomy? A retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for the treatment of hydrocephalus after thalamic hemorrhage (TH) where external ventricular drainage (EVD) could not be removed after hematoma absorption, and to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of hydrocephalus after TH.

METHODS

The clinical data of patients with hydrocephalus after TH whose EVD could not be removed after hematoma absorption were retrospectively analyzed. According to the patients' surgical methods, the patients were divided into the VPS group and ETV group. The operative time, length of hospital stay, complications, and reoperation rates of the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in intraoperative bleeding, length of hospital stay between the two groups. The EVD tubes were successfully removed in all patients after surgery. There were 4 (9.5%) complications in the ETV group and 3 (6.7%) complications in the VPS group, with no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups. During the 1-year follow-up, 7 patients (16.7%) in the ETV group and 3 patients (6.7%) in the VPS group required reoperation. In the subgroup analysis of TH combined with fourth ventricular hemorrhage, 6 patients (14.3%) in the ETV group and 1 patient (2.2%) in the VPS group required reoperation, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

ETV had good efficacy in treating hydrocephalus caused by TH and TH that broke into the lateral ventricle and the third ventricle. However, if hydrocephalus was caused by TH with the fourth ventricular hematoma, VPS was a better surgical method because the recurrence rate of hydrocephalus in ETV was higher than that in VPS. Therefore, the choice of surgical method should be based on the patient's clinical features and hematoma location.

Advantages of disposable portable endoscope in removing thalamic hematoma via the superior parietal lobule

OBJECTIVES

Thalamic hematoma patients present with diverse clinical conditions, and treatment approaches vary widely. Currently, the use of disposable portable endoscope surgery has been rapidly adopted in many hospitals, but outcomes can vary significantly. Surgical approaches and techniques for thalamic hematoma often reference those used for basal ganglia hemorrhage, but their effectiveness remains uncertain. This study aims to explore the advantages of using disposable portable endoscopes in removing thalamic hematoma via the superior parietal lobule, providing guidelines for clinicians to manage thalamic bleeding effectively.

METHODS

Clinical data of patients with thalamic hematoma who underwent either disposable portable endoscope or microscope surgery at the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical duration, hematoma clearance rate, length of hospital stay, improvement rate in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at 24 hours post-operation, and incidence of pulmonary infection were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

Compared with the microscope group, the disposable portable endoscope group had shorter operation time, higher hematoma clearance rate, shorter hospital stay, and lower incidence of pulmonary infection (all P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the improvement rate of GCS score at 24 hours post-operation between the 2 groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In the surgical removal of thalamic hematoma via the superior parietal lobule, the disposable portable endoscope offers advantages such as shorter surgical duration, better visualization, higher hematoma clearance rate, improved surgical efficiency, shorter hospital stay, and lower incidence of pulmonary infection. Therefore, it can be considered as a preferred surgical treatment option for patients with thalamic hematoma.

Continuous irrigation with thrombolytics for intraventricular hemorrhage: case-control study

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a complication of a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Standard treatment is with external ventricular drain (EVD). Intraventricular thrombolysis may improve mortality but does not improve functional outcomes. We present our initial experience with a novel irrigating EVD (IRRAflow) that automates continuous irrigation with thrombolysis.Single-center case-control study including patients with IVH treated with EVD compared to IRRAflow. We compared standard demographics, treatment, and outcome parameters between groups. We developed a brain phantom injected with a human clot and assessed clot clearance using EVD/IRRAflow approaches with CT imaging.Twenty-one patients were treated with standard EVD and 9 patients with IRRAflow. Demographics were similar between groups. Thirty-three percent of patients with EVD also had at least one dose of t-PA and 89% of patients with IRRAflow received irrigation with t-PA (p = 0.01). Mean drain days were 8.8 for EVD versus 4.1 for IRRAflow (p = 0.02). Days-to-clearance of ventricular outflow was 5.8 for EVD versus 2.5 for IRRAflow (p = 0.02). Overall clearance was not different. Thirty-seven percent of EVD patients achieved good outcome (mRS ≥ 3) at 90 days versus 86% of IRRAflow patients (p = 0.03). Assessing only t-PA, reduction in mean days-to-clearance (p = 0.0004) and ICU days (p = 0.04) was observed. In the benchtop model, the clot treated with IRRAflow and t-PA showed a significant reduction of volume compared to control.Irrigation with IRRAflow and t-PA is feasible and safe for patients with IVH. Improving clot clearance with IRRAflow may result in improved clinical outcomes and should be incorporated into randomized trials.