Between February, 1980, and April, 1993. 10 patients with intraparenchymal hemorrhage due to the bleeding of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) underwent emergency surgical procedures within an average time of 3 hours (min. 2-max. 7) from casualty to admission. Rapid neurological worsening and mass effect of the extensive intracerebral hemorrhage prompted early surgical treatment. Post-operative angiography was performed to confirm that the malformation had been excluded from the circulation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of early surgery in patients requiring emergency surgical procedures for severe neurological injury induced by extensive intracerebral hematoma produced by AVM bleeding.