Management of primary intracerebral hematomas

112 cases of primary intracerebral hematomas treated surgically, 25 cases aspirated with urokinase infusion and 25 cases treated conservatively in the last five years were reviewed in detail. In the craniotomy group, 17 out of 44 survivors showed good recovery and returned to normal life, 18 of them went home needing no care, 8 went home needing partial care, and one was bedridden. The overall mortality rate in this group was 59.8%. In the urokinase group, 6 out of 21 survivors showed good recovery and returned to normal life, 11 of them went home needing no care, 3 went home needing partial care and one was bedridden. The overall mortality rate in this group was 16%. In the conservative group, 8 out of 19 survivors showed good recovery and returned to normal life, 9 of them went home needing no care, and two went home needing partial care. The overall mortality rate in this group was 24%. Although the mortality rate was lower in the urokinase group compared with the conservative group, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). These results indicate that surgery is useless in deeply comatose patients and CT-guided aspiration with urokinase is a simple, effective, and safe method in appropriately selected patients.