INTRODUCTION: A 51-year-old woman on warfarin thromboprophylaxis for transient ischemic attacks developed sudden onset nausea, vomiting, and decreased mental status, rapidly becoming comatose. Head computed tomography (CT) showed intracerebral hemorrhage, extending into all ventricular chambers, and acute obstructive hematocephalus requiring urgent ventricular drainage. CT angiogram showed no evidence of an aneurysm or vascular malformation. METHODS: The pretreatment international normalized ratio (INR) of 4.9 was rapidly corrected with recombinant activated factor VII and an external ventricular drain was placed. Despite accurate positioning, the ventriculostomy thrombosed and became nonfunctional. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator was given intraventricularly and resulted in partial ventricular decompression within 24 hours, with dramatic improvement in the patient's level of consciousness. RESULTS: Repeated intraventricular fibrinolysis resulted in further reduction of the intraventricular hematoma within a few days and a good patient outcome. The patient did not require permanent ventricular shunt. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of combined systemic enhancement of hemostasis and local fibrinolysis as a life-saving measure in intracranial hemorrhage.
INTRODUCTION: A 51-year-old woman on warfarin thromboprophylaxis for transient ischemic attacks developed sudden onset nausea, vomiting, and decreased mental status, rapidly becoming comatose. Head computed tomography (CT) showed intracerebral hemorrhage, extending into all ventricular chambers, and acute obstructive hematocephalus requiring urgent ventricular drainage. CT angiogram showed no evidence of an aneurysm or vascular malformation. METHODS: The pretreatment international normalized ratio (INR) of 4.9 was rapidly corrected with recombinant activated factor VII and an external ventricular drain was placed. Despite accurate positioning, the ventriculostomy thrombosed and became nonfunctional. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator was given intraventricularly and resulted in partial ventricular decompression within 24 hours, with dramatic improvement in the patient's level of consciousness. RESULTS: Repeated intraventricular fibrinolysis resulted in further reduction of the intraventricular hematoma within a few days and a good patient outcome. The patient did not require permanent ventricular shunt. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of combined systemic enhancement of hemostasis and local fibrinolysis as a life-saving measure in intracranial hemorrhage.
Authors: William D Freeman; Thomas G Brott; Kevin M Barrett; Pablo R Castillo; H Gordon Deen; Leo F Czervionke; James F Meschia Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 7.616
Authors: Amy D Shapiro; Jorge Di Paola; Alice Cohen; K John Pasi; Margaret A Heisel; Victor S Blanchette; Thomas C Abshire; W Keith Hoots; Jeanne M Lusher; Claude Negrier; Chantal Rothschild; David A Roth Journal: Blood Date: 2004-09-21 Impact factor: 22.113
Authors: Neal J Naff; Daniel F Hanley; Penelope M Keyl; Stanley Tuhrim; Michael Kraut; Joshua Bederson; Ross Bullock; Stephan A Mayer; Eric Schmutzhard Journal: Neurosurgery Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 4.654