Computed Tomography Angiography Spot Sign as an Indicator for Ultra-Early Stereotactic Aspiration of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Ultra-early surgical clot removal relieves mechanical compression on adjacent normal brain tissue and limits the toxic effects of a hematoma, which might improve the outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH); however, hematoma expansion frequently occurs within 20 hours after the ictus, and this limits the use of ultra-early surgery. Computed tomography angiography spot sign was recently validated as an important predictor of hematoma expansion in patients with ICH. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with ICH and negative spot sign who received ultra-early stereotactic aspiration (<6 hours after ictus; n = 32 [Ultra-early group]) or routine stereotactic aspiration (>= 6 hours after ictus; n = 27 [Routine group]) were included in retrospective analysis. RESULTS: The percentage of rebleeding was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Perihematoma edema 7 days after surgery in the Ultra-early group was significantly less frequent than that in the Routine group. For long-term outcomes, the proportion of patient fatalities and Glasgow Outcome Scale score were not significantly different between the 2 groups; however, for patients with severe symptoms, the rate of good neurological outcome in the Ultra-early group was higher than that in the Routine group. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra-early stereotactic aspiration might decrease the volume of perihematoma edema and improve the functional outcomes to some extent, without increasing the recurrence of ICH and patient fatalities. Our findings suggest that using negative spot sign as an indicator for performing ultra-early stereotactic aspiration could be a safe and effective protocol for ICH patients.