Phenomenon of Hematocephalus: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Abstract

The phenomenon of hematocephalus is still not fully understood. Intraventricular hemorrhage volume and intracranial pressure play a substantial role in the outcome and survival of the patients. The intraventricular hemorrhage resulting in an increased intracranial pressure is known by the term “hematocephalus.” The mortality rate ranges from 60% to 91% when hemorrhage affects all four ventricles. Even for partial hematocephalus, the mortality rate has been reported to be 32% to 44%. Therefore, the main objective in managing hematocephalus is to remove intraventricular blood efficiently and quickly because doing so will reduce ventricular dilatation and will rebalance cerebrospinal fluid circulation. However, the current standard management, which is inserting a ventricular drain immediately after an intraventricular hemorrhage, appeared to be of little value as the catheters are invariably clogged with blood clots. Long-term outcomes from the external ventricular drainage insertion plus subsequent intraventricular fibrinolytic therapy have been encouraging, but it also carries a substantial risk of new intracranial bleeding. The neuroendoscopic approach was created to aid in the treatment of hematocephalus and to enable the hematoma to be reduced or removed quickly without invasive surgery or the administration of fibrinolytic medications, preventing the intraventricular inflammatory reactions that result from hematoma degradation products. A controlled trial is necessary to ascertain whether this procedure enhances patient outcomes when compared to ventricular draining with or without thrombolysis.