The effect of the results of the STICH trial on the management of spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage in Newcastle

Recently, the Surgical Trial in IntraCerebral Haemorrhage (STICH) was unable to show an overall benefit from 'early surgery' compared with a policy of 'initial conservative treatment'. Here, we evaluated the impact of the STICH results on the management of spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals. The STICH results were released to the Neurosurgery Department at Newcastle General Hospital in November 2003; using ICD-10 data, we analysed ICH admissions before (2002) and after (2004, 2006, 2007) this. We assessed numbers of Neurosurgery and Stroke Unit admissions, numbers of clot evacuation procedures, and 30-day mortality rate (Neurosurgery vs. Stroke Unit admissions). Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) admissions data were also collected to corroborate our findings. There were 478 spontaneous supratentorial ICH admissions in total; 156 in 2002, 120 in 2004, 106 in 2006 and 96 in 2007. SAH admissions remained remarkably constant over this period. Neurosurgery admissions decreased significantly across the four time periods, from 71% of total ICH admissions (n=156) in 2002 to 55% (n=96) in 2007, and Stroke Unit admissions increased significantly from 8% (n=156) in 2002 to 30% (n=96) in 2007 (2=20.968, p0.001, df=3). Clot evacuation procedures also decreased significantly from 32% (n=111) of Neurosurgery admissions in 2002 to 17% (n=53) in 2007 (2=11.919, p=0.008, df=3). 30-day mortality increased in Neurosurgery from 14% of Neurosurgery admissions (n=111) in 2002 to 26% (n=53) in 2007, and decreased in the Stroke Unit, from 42% of Stroke Unit admissions (n=12) in 2002 to 17% (n=29) in 2007. The STICH results have significantly impacted ICH management in Newcastle, with a trend towards fewer Neurosurgery admissions and clot evacuations, and increased Stroke Unit admissions. The role of surgery for ICH remains controversial, and randomization continues in STICH II for patients with superficial lobar ICH.