Postoperative intracerebral hemorrhages: a survey of computed tomographic findings after 1074 intracranial operations.

We surveyed computed tomographic findings after 1074 intracranial operations to determine the incidence and etiology of postoperative intracerebral hemorrhages. Medium or large hemorrhages occurred after 42 operations (3.9%). Larger hemorrhages, hemorrhages in the suprasellar region, and hemorrhages associated with other types often preceded a poor outcome. Major etiologies underlying postoperative intracerebral hemorrhages were uncontrolled bleeding from a blind area, difficult dissection of a tumor from the brain, retraction injury, vessel injury from a needle, bleeding from a residual tumor, local hemodynamic changes after removal of a tumor, premature rupture of an aneurysm, and hypertensive putaminal hemorrhage. Hypertension during recovery from anesthesia was another important factor.