There is now mounting evidence that there is a penumbra of functionally impaired, but potentially reversible, neuronal
injury surrounding a haematoma. A pro-active approach must, therefore, be maintained in the management of these patients to salvage as much of this brain as possible. Alert patients with small (3 cm or causing hydrocephalus. A large multicentre
prospective randomised controlled trial (International Surgical Trial in Intracerebral
Haemorrhage) is currently underway to determine if early clot evacuation will lead
to a better neurological outcome in patients with spontaneous supratentorial,
non-aneurysmal ICH