Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage should be admitted to an intensive care unit for experienced neurologic nursing care
and close attention to vital signs. We recommend gentle reduction in blood pressure in individuals who present with elevated
readings and in whom hemorrhage is felt to be secondary to hypertension. For the vast majority of nontraumatic intracerebral
hemorrhages, the indications for surgery and use of intracranial pressure monitoring devices remain unproven. Surgery is indicated
for notable exceptions, such as for patients with cerebellar hematomas (3 mL or larger) and for patients with temporal lobe
hematoma and impending brain stem compression. In general, intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is advised to help guide
treatment with hyperosmolar agents and hyperventilation when increased ICP is suspected. For patients with smaller supratentorial
hematomas who are alert or somnolent, conservative treatment is optimal. Similarly, we support conservative management in
patients older than 70 years of age who present with a hemorrhage of more than 50 mL and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score
of less than 8. Insufficient data exist from large randomized and controlled studies to recommend surgical intervention as
definitive treatment for the group between these two extremes.