Starting antiplatelet therapy early after surgery for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage led to fewer postoperative ischemic major cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular events than starting it later, according to new research. The study, conducted at stroke centers across China, included adult patients who were undergoing surgery for the evacuation of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and were at high risk of postoperative ischemic events. Patients were randomized to receive 100 mg acetylsalicylic acid once a day in either the early start group, starting on the third day after surgery until the 90^th day after surgery, or in  the late-start group, starting on the 30^th day after surgery until the 90^th day after surgery. Of the 269 patients enrolled (72% male, median age 60.2 years), 134 were in the early-start group and 135 were in the late-start group. Nearly two-thirds (63%, n=170) of the patients had supratentorial and deep hematomas. Overall, 20% (27/134) of the early-start patients and 31% (42/135) of the late-start patients experienced ischemic major cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular events within 90 days after surgery – the primary efficacy outcome. Intracranial bleeding – the primary safety outcome – was recorded in 1% (1/134) of the early-start patients and 3% (4/135) of the late-start patients. A total of 42% of patients in each group experienced non-bleeding serious adverse events. Further research is needed to determine whether starting acetylsalicylic acid treatment early is safe and boosts clinical outcomes for wider populations of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.