A Meta-analysis for Evaluating Efficacy of Neuroendoscopic Surgery versus Craniotomy for Supratentorial Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage is a potentially life-threatening neurological deficit with the highest morbidity and mortality. In recent years, neuroendoscopy has been used to treat intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs). However, the choice of neuroendoscopic surgery or craniotomy for patients with ICHs is controversial. The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of neuroendoscopic surgery compared to craniotomy in patients with supratentorial hypertensive ICH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic electronic search was performed using online electronic databases such as Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane library updated on December 2017. The meta-analysis was performed by only including studies designed as randomized controlled trials. RESULTS: Three randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis of death showed that neuroendoscopic surgery decreased the rate of death compared to craniotomy (RR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.26–1.29; P=0.18). Pooled results of complications showed that neuroendoscopic surgery tended to have fewer complications than craniotomy had (RR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.28–0.49; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Although the presenting analyses suggest that neuroendoscopic surgery should have fewer complications than craniotomy dose, it had no superior advantage in morbidity rate definitely. Therefore, it may be necessary for the neurosurgeons to select best optimal patients for individual treatment.