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Stroke and Craniectomy

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Abstract

Neurosurgical involvement in the care of major stroke complications has yielded striking results in the subtentorial region but equivocal outcomes in the supratentorial compartment. Most neurosurgeons want to see some degree of deterioration before proceeding; thus, timing will be debated. Viewpoints have changed over the years regarding surgical or medical intervention, but in many patients the procedure has not produced a definitive change in outcome other than preventing death from terminal brainstem shift. The introduction of craniectomy (and craniotomy) to treat swollen ischemic brain or intracranial hemorrhage has historical interest.

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Fig. 1

(from Clark [10], used with permission)

Fig. 2

(from Rengachary [13], with permission)

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  1. Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Eelco F. M. Wijdicks

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  1. Eelco F. M. Wijdicks
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Correspondence to Eelco F. M. Wijdicks.

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Wijdicks, E.F.M. Stroke and Craniectomy. Neurocrit Care 30, 235–238 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-017-0498-0

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