Acute Decompressive Hemicraniectomy to Control High Intracranial Pressure in Patients with Malignant MCA Ischemic Strokes.

Malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction occurs in about 10% of all patients with supratentorial ischemic strokes. The infarction involves the entire MCA territory. Due to the consequences of severe brain edema, brain herniation, elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), and midline shift, these events carry a mortality rate of up to 80%.