Introduction: Minimally invasive puncture surgery with thrombolysis is effective for hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage, but its effect on neurological recovery remains uncertain. The use of neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic technology can significantly improve the precision of catheter placement, while tenecteplase (TNK), a third-generation thrombolytic with high fibrin specificity and superior activity against platelet-rich clots. Nonetheless, the efficacy and safety of combining neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic minimally invasive puncture (NALCIE) with TNK for reducing disability and mortality in acute spontaneous lobar intracerebral hemorrhage have yet to be established.
Aim: To present the scientific rationale and study design of the neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic minimally invasive puncture combined with tenecteplase (NALICE-TNK) trial for the treatment of acute spontaneous lobar intracerebral hemorrhage.
Design: NALICE-TNK is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, assessor-blinded, clinical trial enrolling 636 patients with acute lobar intracerebral hemorrhage and hematoma volumes of 30-50 mL. The trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic minimally invasive puncture (MIPS) combined with tenecteplase (TNK), administered every 24 hours at a dose of 0.009 mg per mL of hematoma volume, versus standard medical care. All participants will undergo standardized 180-day follow-up.
Study outcomes: The primary efficacy endpoint is functional ambulation (a score of 0 to 3 on the modified Rankin scale; range, 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating more severe disability) at 180 days. The primary safety endpoint is all-cause mortality at 30 days.