Intracerebral hemorrhage after thrombolytic therapy managed with ventricular drainage.
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) after thrombolytic treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious complication causing significant morbidity and mortality. Drainage of the haematoma by craniotomy is associated with poor outcome. We present a patient who received tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) for acute myocardial infarction; he subsequently developed an ICH with ventricular system extension. The patient was managed by insertion of an external ventricular drain. The hemorrhage was successfully evacuated by insertion of the external ventricular drain. This was unexpected as ICH are usually viscous and difficult to aspirate in the acute phase. This suggests that ICHs following thrombolytic therapy remain liquid for up to 10 h. External ventricular drains can be used in the management of patients with ICH complicating thrombolytic therapy for management of acute myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke. This reduces the need for craniotomy and associated morbidity and mortality.
Al-Khawaja
Darweesh
D
Department of Neurosurgery, Nepean Hospital, and Department of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia. darweesh69@hotmail.com
Eslick
Guy D
GD
Fuller
Stephen J
SJ
Seex
Kevin
K
D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator