Impact of Minimally Invasive Surgery on Midline Shift and Outcomes in Large Supratentorial Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Post Hoc Analysis of MISTIE III

Abstract

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for large supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) addresses primary brain injury by reducing mass effect, causing midline shift (MLS). We investigated the relationship between MIS, MLS, and functional outcomes in a large clinical trial.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of patients with qualified computed tomography (CT) images from the phase 3 Minimally Invasive Surgery Plus Alteplase for Intracerebral Haemorrhage Evacuation trial. The exposure was MLS at the pineal gland (PG) and septum pellucidum (SP) on CT scans at diagnosis, end of treatment (EOT), and hospital discharge. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were mortality and modified Rankin scale score at day 365. We performed multivariable logistic regression and mediation analyses, adjusted for demographics, ICH characteristics, and treatment.

Results: Participants had a median age of 62 years and a median ICH volume of 44 mL, and 61% were male. Thirty-day mortality was 12%. MLS on EOT CT was significantly lower in surgical patients compared with medical patients. EOT MLS in day 30 surgical survivors was also significantly lower compared with that in medically treated survivors and nonsurvivors. The odds of 30-day mortality on adjusted analyses were significantly increased by 1 mm in MLS at both the PG and SP (PG: odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.41; SP: odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.10-1.36). Thresholds of MLS change < 3 mm (SP) and < 5 mm (PG) were associated with mortality reduction. The association of MIS with 30-day mortality was mediated fully by change in either the SP or PG MLS from diagnostic to EOT CT. Change in MLS was significantly associated with one-year mortality and, for SP, with one-year good functional outcome (modified Rankin scale scores 0-3).

Conclusions: MIS for ICH significantly reduces MLS. This reduction in MLS significantly mediates reduction in 30-day mortality with MIS and is associated with both short-term and long-term outcomes.

Keywords: Clinical neurology; Image analysis; Intracerebral hemorrhage; Neurosurgery; Stroke.