[A treatment procedure for nontraumatic cerebellar hemorrhages]

The results of surgical treatment of 12 patients with non-traumatic intracerebellar hemorrhages are analyzed in this paper. The following parameters were assessed: clinical signs and symptoms, the level of consciousness, location and size of the lesion, the brain stem deformation, the rupture of hematoma into the adjacent ventricle, and hydrocephalus. In all patients with fulminant course as well as in the majority of patients with acute or subacute course when the brain stem compression progresses and seems to be unresponsive to medical treatment, surgery is strongly indicated. Among the surgical procedures, placement of the external ventricular drainage and extensive midline suboccipital craniectomy are curative. These procedures proved to be effective in reducing the brain stem compression. Patients with chronic intracerebral hematomas are followed conservatively.