[Primary brain stem hemorrhage: retrospective study of 25 cases].
BACKGROUND
We report a retrospective series of 25 cases of brain stem hemorrhage.


METHODS
Cases of spontaneous hemorrhage of the brain stem which were observed from 1990 to 2000 in a department of neurology were reviewed. Etiological factors, CT scan at admission, clinical signs and the course of the disease were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
There were 25 patients, 14 male and 11 female aged from 24 to 91. Fifteen hematomas were related to hypertension, four to coagulation disorders and two to a vascular malformation. The hemorrhage was located in the pons in 22 cases and in the midbrain in three cases. The death rate directly related to the hemorrhage was 14/25 (12 early and two delayed deaths). Prognosis factors were the size of the hemorrhage, a ventricular bleeding, disorders of consciousness and pupillary abnormalities on admission, the need for mechanical ventilation.


CONCLUSIONS
In brain stem hemorrhage, the size of the hematoma is a more important prognosis factor than age or etiological factors.
Raison
J S
JS
Service de neurologie, centre Gui-de-Chauliac, CHU de Montpellier, 80, avenue Fliche, 34295 Montpellier, France.
Bourbotte
G
G
Baum
T P
TP
Pagès
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000150:complications; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011149:Pons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed