Computed tomography guided stereotactic aspiration of pontine hemorrhages.

Computed tomography-guided stereotactic aspiration has been carried out in 20 patients with hypertensive pontine hemorrhage. A Komai computed tomography-guided stereotactic apparatus and a suboccipital transcerebellar approach were used. The entire operative procedures were performed under local anesthesia or neuroleptanalgesia in the semilateral position. Of 20 patients, the outcome was assessed as good in 9, fair in 4, and poor in 7. No patient deteriorated after the operation. The relationship between the preoperative clinical features and the outcome in comparison with the conservative treatment is presented.