Abstract: (24223 Views)
Spontaneous intra-cerebral haemorrhage (SICH) is a relatively common neurological emergency, that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The goal of the present study was to estimate the neuro-imaging findings (initial CT scans), clinical presentation and possible risk factors in intra-cerebral haemorrhages.
Methods and Materials: The clinical and radiographic findings of 380 patients with intra-cerebral haemorrhage were analysed retrospectively. Patients with haemorrhage secondary to traumatism, brain tumour, or hemorrhagic infarction were excluded. 300 patients considered eligible for final analysis. All CT scans were evaluated to define the location and extension of bleeding.
Results: There were 160 men and 140 women, and the average age was 62 years, (range 26 to 87 years). The most common presenting symptom was consciousness (51 percent), headaches were present in 41.6 percent of patients, only 8.3 percent of patients were comatose at presentation. Location were lobar 36 percent, lenticular and thalamic 47 percent, possible risk factors included hypertension 60.3 percent anticoagulant treatment 9 percent and none 30.6 percent.
Conclusion: Hypertension causes most cases, in which the SICH was located in the basal ganglia. Headaches were more commonly found in patients with cerebellar haemorrhage (70.3 percent). Intra-ventricular extension most frequently occurred in the thalamic haemorrhage and subarachnoid bleeding in lobar haemorrhage location. The majority of patients with SICH that resulted from hypertension were aged >45 years. The control of risk factors, particularly hypertension is crucial to prevention.