Early aneurysm surgery: a 7 year clinical practice report

Summary One hundred and fifty patients with intracranial aneurysms, operated on consecutively in the early stage in our department, were re-evaluated retrospectively. Seven surgeons operated on 159 aneurysms in 150 patients. Seventy-nine percent of the patients were in grades I–III (scale of Hunt and Hess), 21% in grades IV–V. Seventyone percent had a severe haemorrhage (classification of Fisheret al.), 21% had an intracerebral haematoma.Intraoperative CSF drainage was an almost indispensable tool while postoperative external drainage did not prove to be helpful in preventing vasospasm and/or hydrocephalus. Induced hypotension was abandoned in favour of temporary clipping.Thirteen percent of the patients suffered a permanent or fatal immediate postoperative deterioration, while 11% developed delayed neurological deficits. Five percent were related to vasospasms alone, they were all transient. Five percent had vasospasm combined with other complications. One of them had permanent and the other one fatal deficits. One percent deteriorated due to embolism or occluded vessels.The results improved with the introduction of the calcium channel blocker nimodipine, induced hypertension and transcranial Doppler sonographic control of the vasospasm. Patients in good preoperative condition had a good early outcome in 69%. The result was fair in 21% and poor in 4%, while 6% of the patients died. In the poor condition group 22% of the patients made a good, 13% a fair, and 59% a poor recovery, 16% of whom died.We conclude that today the results of early surgery are becoming similar to those of delayed surgery and that the importance of vasospasm for an unfavourable outcome is insignificant in comparison with lesions produced by the haemorrhage and operation.     

Effect on management mortality of a deliberate policy of early operation on supratentorial aneurysms

Of 736 patients with intracranial aneurysms seen at the University of Alberta from 1968 to 1985, 437 were admitted on the day of or the day after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from a supratentorial aneurysm. Of these, 205 were managed from 1968 through 1977 and 232 were managed from 1978 through early 1985 after a policy of early aneurysm operation had been implemented. Postoperative and management mortality and morbidity rates were related to the grade of the patient at the time of admission and the time interval before operation. Overall management mortality (and postoperative mortality) rates for patients treated before 1978 were 47% (19%) for all grades, 17% (12%) for Grades 1 and 2, 51% (25%) for Grades 3 and 4, and 100% (100%) for Grade 5. Since 1978, mortality has been reduced to 38% (11%) for all grades, 10% (5%) for Grades 1 and 2, 39% (17%) for Grades 3 and 4, and 96% (60%) for Grade 5. Management mortality for patients operated on Day 0 to 3 was lower than for those operated later after SAH both before and after 1978. Postoperative mortality was lowered in all patients operated from 1978 to 1985 regardless of the interval from SAH to operation, and management mortality was reduced overall, as well as for patients operated on day 0 to 3, in those treated from 1978 to 1985. The authors conclude that a policy of early aneurysm operation has contributed to a reduction of both postoperative and management mortality.     

Prognostic value of the Spetzler's grading system in a series of cerebral AVMs treated by a combined management

Summary The prognostic value of the Spetzler's grading system is studied in a series of 52 AVMs treated by a combined management, using one or several of the 3 available techniques: surgical resection, endovascular embolization, radiosurgery.The symptoms at the time of treatment were haemorrhage 50%, seizures 31%, headache and deficit 19%. Three grade groups were considered: I and II (31%), III (33%), IV and V (36%). Overall, AVMs were managed as follows: resection alone 25%, embolization plus resection 23%, embolization alone 23%, radiosurgery with various combinations 29%. According to the grade groups, the most frequently used technique was resection alone for grade I–II AVMs (44%), radiosurgery for grade III AVMs (41%) and embolization alone for grade IV–V AVMs (42%).The clinical outcome was evaluated in terms of deterioration due to treatment. The best results were obtained in grade I–II AVMs (81% with no deterioration) then in grade III AVMs (65%) and in grade IV–V (58%). However, when we consider the outcome in terms of favourable results (no or only minor deterioration) we obtained a similar outcome for grade I–II and grade III AVMs (94% each), and only 79% for grade IV–V malformations. The angiographic outcome showed a better eradication rate in grade III AVMs (88% complete eradication), than in grade I–II AVMs (75%) and in grade IV–V (47%).Our conclusion is that the Spetzler's grading system in this series was well correlated with both the clinical and the angiographic outcome. However, we found no real difference between grade I–II and grade III AVMs. So, in terms of prognostic value, the grade I, II, and III AVMs could be considered together as low-grade malformations, with a better prognosis than the high-grade malformations (grade IV and V).     

Amount of subarachnoid blood and vasospasm: Current aspects

Summary Subsequent to admission after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), 120 patients (74 women and 46 men) underwent microsurgical clipping of a total of 158 cerebral aneurysms within 96 hours after the bleed. Their mean age was 46 (20–91) years. Computed tomography (CT) findings were graded according to the modified Fisher scale and all patients had daily transcranial doppler (TCD) recordings of their basal cerebral arteries.In 19% of SAH was grade I on CT, in 44% grade II and in 37% grade III. The rate of patients who developed severe vasospasm as documented by TCD (mean blood flow velocities exceeding 160 cm/s on 2 or more consecutive days) was 39% for grade I patients, 26% for grade II patients and 34% for patients with SAH grade III on the initial CT.There was no difference in the rate of occurrence of severe vasospasm, when the patients were split into 2 groups according to the time of performance of the initial CT scan-within 24 hours, and 48–80 hours after SAH, respectively.It is concluded that the amount of subarachnoid blood on the initial CT scan should no longer be used as the indicator for occurrence and severity of the multifactorial entity vasospasm.     

Emergency treatment of cerebral aneurysms with large haematomas

Of 469 patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) from ruptured intracranial aneurysms, 31 had large intracerebral haematomas and were treated as emergency cases at the University Central Hospital, Kuopio, Finland during 1979-1985. The haematomas were evacuated and the aneurysms clipped immediately after diagnosis with CT and angiography. The mean diameter of the haematomas was 48 mm. Of the 31 patients 15 died. Mortality was lower for patients with aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery and for those with a better clinical grade (Gr. IV) at the time of the operation (41%); all patients with dilated pupils in grade V died. Five patients returned to work, and 10 are living a useful and independent life at home. Because early CT is increasingly used as the first diagnostic tool in vascular catastrophies, the pressure for early emergency treatment of aneurysmal intracerebral haematoma is increasing. The almost 100% mortality with conservative treatment should be compared to the 41% mortality with selection of the surgical candidates.     

Surgical treatment of multiple aneurysms

Summary We review the surgical results in 372 cases of multiple intracranial aneurysms over a 25-year period in which one of us (JS) performed 2,000 direct operations for aneurysms. All patients were classified into four groups according to the location of the aneurysm: Group 1: multiple aneurysms including anterior communicating artery aneurysm (157 cases); Group 2: multiple aneurysms of unilateral anterior circulation (72 cases); Group 3: multiple aneurysms of bilateral anterior circulation (110 cases); Group 4: multiple aneurysms including vertebro-basilar artery aneurysms (33 cases).In multiple aneurysm cases, our policy has been to treat all aneurysms, ruptured and unruptured, in a one-stage operation whenever possible. About 90% of patients in both Group 1 and 2 were treated by one-stage operations, while 60% of patients in Group 3 and 42% of patients in Group 4 were operated on in the same manner.Excellent and good results in from 73% to 81% of cases were obtained in patients in Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3. Morbidity was 14–19% and mortality was 6–8%. These results were comparable to the results with a single aneurysm of the anterior circulation. On the other hand, the surgical results in Group 4 were poor with a mortality of 27%. Poor results were attributable to the postoperative rebleeding from the untreated vertebro-basilar aneurysms, which were thought to be unruptured aneurysms preoperatively.Furthermore, it was clarified that the results of early one-stage operations (within one week from onset) in patients with multiple aneurysms were satisfactory. In this group, there was good recovery in 84% of patients, 7% were disabled and 9% died. The morbidity was notably lower in patients operated on within one week than in those operated on after 8 days. Based on these results, the one-stage operation in the acute period is recommended for patients with multiple aneurysms.     

Level of consciousness and age as prognostic factors in aneurysmal SAH

Summary The prognostic value of the level of consciousness and the patient's age for the outcome of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is studied in 74 patients admitted on day (D)0 to D3 after aneurysm rupture.For the level of consciousness three groups of patients are compared: grade I+II (alert patients), grade III+IV (drowsy patients), and grade V (comatose patients). For the age, two groups are compared: patients aged under 50, and patients aged 50 and over. The timing of surgery was: D0–D3 51%, D4–D6 20%, D7 and later 18%, and No surgery 11%.The overall management results were: Good (satisfactory result) 43%, Fair (moderately disabled) 18%, Poor (severely disabled+vegetative survival) 19%, and Death 20%. The outcome was strongly related to the level of consciousness, the rates of Good result decreasing from 71% (grades I–II) to 14% (grades III–IV) and to zero (grade V), and the mortality rates increasing respectively from 5% to 14% and 61%.The relationship between outcome and age was less marked: 54% Good result under 50 and 30% over 50. Out of the Grade V group, 56% could be operated upon and 44% died before surgery. No patient from the other two groups died before surgery. The literature concerning the Grading Systems published so far and the various prognostic factors are discussed.     

Retrospective analysis of 162 consecutive cases of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Total mortality and early surgery

Summary A retrospective analysis of 162 consecutive cases with ruptured intracranial aneurysm treated during the years 1979–1981 is presented. Total mortality was 33 %. Eighty-four patients were in Botterell grades I–II and 62 were operated with a direct attack on the aneurysm. Thirty-eight were operated early with a mortality of 5% compared with 13% for those operated late. There was no difference in morbidity between the two groups. Of the patients operated with clipping, 66% made a complete recovery and 21% were classified as independent.Signs of delayed ischaemia were recorded in 42% of patients operated early as compared with 25% in the late surgery group. The frequency of rebleedings in the total material was 15%. Hospitalization time was significantly reduced in the early operated group. The importance of analysing the total management mortality and morbidity for evaluation and comparison between early and delayed surgery is discussed.     

Shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after subarachnoid haemorrhage and aneurysm surgery: Timing of surgery is not a risk factor

Summary Early hydrocephalus is a risk factor of shunt-dependent late hydrocephalus (SDHC). In the CT era 1980–1990 we had 835 consecutive patients operated on because of aneurysm and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH); 294 had an early hydrocephalus and 67 finally required a shunt. There were 14 patients with normal early CT and SDHC, in all 81 patients needed a shunt (10%). Patients with shunt did worse, they were older (53 vs 49) than the non-shunted group and there was a female preponderance.Pre-operative Grade correlated significantly with the need for a shunt operation; no one in Grade I developed SDHC, incidence in Grades III and IV was high (18% and 10%, respectively). Location was important; in vertebrobasilar area 28% and in anterior communicating area 14% but in middle cerebral area only 4% of the patients had SDHC.The amount of cisternal bleeding correlated significantly with SDHC; in 155 patients with non detectible or minimal cisternal blood only one developed SDHC, with severe cisternal bleeding the incidence was 16%. Ventricular bleeding increased the risk of SDHC, but intracerebral haematoma did not.Timing of surgery had no correlation with the risk of SDHC. Postoperative complications, haematomas and infections increased the risk of late SDHC. Delayed ischaemia correlated with the risk, but so did the treatment with nimodipine. Severe bleeding was the common predictor for the risk of SDHC. Location of the bleeding and postoperative problems are the other major causes. Outcome is, however, not so gloomy; 54% of patients with SDHC are independent one year later.     

Enhanced cisternal drainage and cerebral vasospasm in early aneurysm surgery

Summary Enhanced cisternal drainage was performed following early aneurysm surgery in patients with Hunt and Kosnik grades I–III, to effect continuous wash-out of subarachnoid blood clots and reduce symptomatic vasospasm. Following extensive evacuation of the cisternal blood clots, the Liliequist's membrane was opened extensively and a third ventriculostomy was effected by opening the lamina terminals. The drainage effect was considered as poor, moderate or fair, depending on the average amount of CSF drainage/day. SAH was graded into 0–III depending on the severity of cisternal haematoma in the pre-operative CT. No symptomatic vasospasm occurred in patients with SAH grade I. In SAH grade II +III patients symptomatic vasospasm occurred in 78,60 and 42% of patients with a poor, moderate and fair drainage effect, respectively. Nine patients who developed symptomatic vasospasm were treated by hypertensive/hypervolemic therapy (HHT). The HHT was effective in 7 patients with fair and moderate CSF drainage and ineffective in 2 patients with poor a drainage effect. It seems, that enhanced post-operative cisternal drainage can reduce the incidence of symptomatic vasospasm and be of benefit to the outcome of early aneurysm surgery.     

Cognition and adjustment after late and early operation for ruptured aneurysm

Does early aneurysm operation, while lowering the overall management mortality, result in an unacceptable morbidity in terms of increased cognitive disturbances and psychosocial maladjustment? The present study evaluates quality of life, degree of cognitive dysfunction, and adjustment of 93 patients with satisfactory neurological recoveries after operations for ruptured supratentorial aneurysms. All patients had been in neurological Grades I to III (Hunt and Hess) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Fifty-five patients were operated upon during the acute state, i.e., within 72 hours after bleeding (early surgery = ES), and 38 patients had been subjected to late surgery (LS), i.e., were operated on 9 days or more after SAH. Each patient was subjected to a clinical interview and a comprehensive neuropsychological investigation. The time interval between SAH and assessment varied between 12 and 103 months (mean, 56 months). The results confirm that there are indication of cognitive malfunctioning and psychosocial disturbances of varying severity and distribution in patients who have undergone LS. The pattern and distribution of sequelae after LS did not differ substantially from that in patients subjected to ES. The results offer strong support to the concept that remaining disturbances in cognition are mainly related to the impact of the initial hemorrhage per se. In patients with anterior communicating artery aneurysms, a larger decrease in tempo and perceptual vigilance was noted, suggesting that the subfrontal midline structures are particularly involved in processes demanding flexibility, attention, and capacity to adapt to novel demands in a perceptual situation.     

Timing and indication of surgery for ruptured intracranial aneurysms with regard to cerebral vasospasm

Summary The authors survey 443 cases of intracranial aneurysms treated in the past seven years. 403 cases were operated upon with microsurgical techniques. The operative mortality was 5.4 per cent, and 82.4 per cent of surgically treated cases are well and working, leading useful social lives. It was found that cases submitted to surgery in the first three days after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) (the day of SAH being counted as the first day) showed good results, little appearance of postoperative vasospasm, and no mortality due to vasospasm. Cases operated upon after one week from the insult of SAH also showed good results, whereas fatal postoperative vasospasm was seen in cases operated upon on the 4th–7th day after SAH. Cisternal, ventricular, and epidural drainage are recommended after the clipping of aneurysms in the acute stage of SAH.There were 68 cases with preoperative vasospasm. There was no case in which vasospasm was identified during the first four days after SAH, while 66 per cent of the cases exhibited vasospasm between the sixth and ninth days after SAH. These 68 cases can be classified into four groups: 1. 8 cases died from vasospasm before surgery; 2. 8 cases had renewed bleeding mainly when vasospasm began to subside; 3. 22 cases underwent surgery after vasospasm had subsided, the duration of vasospasm ranging from 8 to 24 days, on an average 14 days; 4. 30 cases underwent surgery while vasospasm was still present; of this group, (4E) 15 cases submitted to surgery, on an average 4.5 days after the onset of vasospasm, manifested deterioration of clinical states because of aggravation or new appearance of vasospasm; (4L) 15 cases which underwent surgery, on an average 7.4 days after the onset of vasospasm, showed no such deterioration. In the follow-up, well and working cases were seen in 45.5 per cent (3.), 60 per cent (4E), and 80 per cent (4L), respectively.The authors classified vasospasm into three types: Type 1, extensive diffuse, Type 2, multi-segmental, and Type 3, local. Type 1 was prognostically worst, Type 3 good, and Type 2 was located between these two types.     

Ultra-early surgery for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: outcomes for a consecutive series of 391 patients not selected by grade or age

OBJECT: This study was undertaken to determine the outcomes in an unselected group of patients treated with semiurgent surgical clipping of aneurysms following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: A clinical management outcome audit was conducted to determine outcomes in a group of 391 consecutive patients who were treated with a consistent policy of ultra-early surgery (all patients treated within 24 hours after SAH and 85% of them within 12 hours). All neurological grades were included, with 45% of patients having poor grades (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies [WFNS] Grades IV and V). Patients were not selected on the basis of age; their ages ranged between 15 and 93 years and 19% were older than 70 years. The series included aneurysms located in both anterior and posterior circulations. Eighty-eight percent of all patients underwent surgery and only 2.5% of the series were selectively withdrawn (by family request) from the prescribed surgical treatment. In patients with good grades (WFNS Grades I-III) the 3-month postoperative outcomes were independence (good outcome) in 84% of cases, dependence (poor outcome) in 8% of cases, and death in 9%. In patients with poor grades the outcomes were independence in 40% of cases, dependence in 15% of cases, and death in 45%. There was a 12% rate of rebleeding with all cases of rebleeding occurring within the first 12 hours after SAH; however, outcomes of independence were achieved in 46% of cases in which rebleeding occurred (43% mortality rate). Rebleeding was more common in patients with poor grades (20% experienced rebleeding, whereas only 5% of patients with good grades experienced rebleeding). CONCLUSIONS: The major risk of rebleeding after SAH is present within the first 6 to 12 hours. This risk of ultra-early rebleeding is highest for patients with poor grades. Securing ruptured aneurysms by surgery or coil placement on an emergency basis for all patients with SAH has a strong rational argument.     

Chronic bilateral subdural haematoma in adults

Summary Twenty-nine patients with chronic bilateral subdural haematomas were surgically treated during 1966 to 1977. Twenty-four of them (83%) had a history of head injury, which caused unconsciousness in eight cases. The mean interval from trauma to operation was eleven weeks. The mean age of the patients was 60 years. The prevalence of the most commonly encountered symptoms and signs was: headache 72%, mental symptoms 48%, papilloedema 41%, vertigo 31%, nausea 28%, reduced consciousness 28%, walking difficulties 24%, hemiparesis 24%, and paraparesis 14%. The aggregate thickness of haematomas was 34 mm, 36 mm, and 40 mm in age groups of 20–39, 40–59, and over 60 years, respectively. All patients were operated on, four of them only unilaterally. Three patients in the whole series died. Two of them had been operated upon only on one side in the first session, the haematoma of the other side being evacuated 81/2 hours and four days later, respectively. Unilateral operation is likely to cause sever e distortion of the midline structures and the brain stem and thus aggravates the cerebral situation. Therefore the necessity of simultaneous evacuation of the haematomas on both sides is stressed. The reason for the death of the third patient was delay in diagnosis.All three patients who died belonged to the group of eight patients with a reduced level of consciousness before surgery.Twenty-three of the survivors were fully independent in their daily lives, and three needed some help after operative treatment.     

Early management in poor grade aneurysm patients

Summary Aneurysm surgery began in Lübeck only in 1986 when the department was completely reorganized. Early operation in the good grade patients (I–III, according to Hunt and Hess) was performed. In every case we also discussed the feasibility of operating on the poor grade patients (Hunt and Hess IV and V).During a five-year period (1986–1991) a total of 277 SAH patients were admitted to the department. 109 (39%) patients arrived in a poor grade (Hunt and Hess IV or V), 12 of these patients died within hours of admission. 25 patients, who presented with a large intracerebral and/or subdural haematoma, were urgently operated upon by haematoma evacuation and aneurysm clipping. An external ventricular drainage was performed on 72 patients. Of the ventriculostomy group 33 patients improved and 27 were operated upon. In 17 of the 39 patients without improvement after CSF-drainage we decided to operate.Overall 69 patients were surgically treated (craniotomy, aneurysm clipping) and 40 were not. The mortality rate in the surgical cases was 16 (23%) compared with 30 (75%) without operation.It is concluded that poor grade aneurysm patients can achieve a better outcome with active treatment based on immediate ventriculostomy and optimal haemodynamic parameters after haematoma evacuation and early occlusion of the aneurysm.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H.-D. Herrmann on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Morbidity and mortality after early aneurysm surgery — a prospective study with nimodipine prevention

Summary Based on the outcome in 116 consecutive patients who were subjected to early aneurysm operation combined with additional nimodipine treatment, and who were controlled by transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography, a morbidity and mortality analysis was performed. Of the 84 patients who preoperatively were in Hunt & Hess grades III, 79 patients (94%) were considered to show a favourable (good-fair) late recovery, while one patient (1%) had a poor outcome, and four patients (5%) died. Of the 32 poor condition patients (H & H IV–V), 17 (53%) showed a favourable recovery, while seven (22%) had a poor outcome, and eight patients (25%) died. Altogether, 20 patients (17%) had an unfavourable (poor-dead) outcome. Only two of these patients showed delayed ischaemic deterioration, one as a consequence of a secondary occlusion of perforating branches from the basilar artery and one with decompensated vasospasm after the evacuation of an epidural haematoma and a longlasting severe systemic hypotension; both these patients died. In another six of the patients with an unfavourable outcome, this was mainly related to a complicated surgery. The unfavourable outcome was related to primary brain damage produced by the subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in ten patients and in two patients to internal medical complications. In addition to the two patients who died following delayed deterioration, secondary neurological dysfunction occurred in 11 patients. In 10 of these patients transient neurological dysfunction was attributed to vasospasm or to a combination of vasospasm with intraoperative or postoperative complications. One further case of delayed deterioration was attributed to secondary occlusion of the internal carotid artery after a complicated operation. From these data we conclude that following early aneurysm operation combined with intravenous nimodipine treatment, vasospasm alone is no more a major clinical problem. Morbidity and mortality are mainly related to primary effects of the SAH and/or complicated surgery.     

Introduction of GDC Embolization in the Clinical Practice as Treatment Synergical to Surgery: Impact on Overall Outcome of Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Summary  The GDC endovascular approach represent an effective alternative to surgery for treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Anyway no data are available about the impact of endovascular embolization with GDC on overall outcome of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. We analyse retrospectively a series of 234 patients admitted for ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Results were then compared with results of three surgical series from the literature.  The 95,7% of patients underwent aneurysm treatment; 56,4% of patients were classified as good recovery, 12,8% presented moderate disability, 10,3% were severely disabled, 3% were in persistent vegetative state and 17,5% were dead. Patients older than 60 years accounted for 37% of all cases and good outcome in this group accounted for 54,7%. Good results were obtained in 90,1%, 61,7% and 22,8% of patients with Hunt-Hess grade I–II, III and IV–V respectively. Finally good outcome was observed in 82,8% of patients with aneurysms of the posterior circulation.  Introduction of GDC embolization in clinical practice contributed to the extension of indication for aneurysm treatment leading to a reduction of overall mortality. GDC utilisation does not affect the overall percentage of patients with good outcome reflecting an increase of severely disabled patients. Endovascular treatment seems an effective theraputic choice in selected grade I–II patients. Results in grade III patients suggest that surgery may be advantageous because of washing and decompression of the basal cisterns while results in grade IV and V patients are unsatisfactory. GDC embolization clearly improves the prognosis of patients with posterior circulation aneurysms and probably is an advantageous theraputic choice in elderly patients.     

Timing of operation for ruptured supratentorial aneurysms: a prospective randomized study

A total of 216 patients with a ruptured aneurysm of the anterior part of the circle of Willis were enrolled into this prospective randomized study of timing of the operation after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Only patients in clinical Grades I to III (according to the classification of Hunt and Hess) who were admitted and randomly assigned to a treatment group within 72 hours after the SAH were included in the trial. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three operation groups: acute surgery (AS: 0 to 3 days after the SAH; day of SAH = Day 0), intermediate surgery (IS: 4 to 7 days after the SAH), or late surgery (LS: 8 days to an indefinite time after the SAH). Three patients (4.3%) in the IS group and six patients (8.6%) in the LS group died before surgery was undertaken. At 3 months post-SAH, 65 patients (91.5%) from the AS group were classified as independent compared to 55 (78.6%) from the IS group and 56 (80.0%) from the LS group. The management mortality rate in the AS group was 5.6% compared to 12.9% in the LS group. Of the 216 patients enrolled in the timing study, 159 were randomly assigned to an independent double-blind placebo-controlled trial of nimodipine in Grade I to III patients. A total of 79 patients received nimodipine and 80 placebo. When the nimodipine group and the no-nimodipine group (the 80 placebo-treated patients plus the 52 patients who were not entered into the nimodipine trial) were analyzed separately, a significant difference was seen in the outcome of the no-nimodipine group (dependent AS vs. dependent IS, p = 0.01). Nimodipine treatment was associated with a significant reduction of delayed ischemic deterioration (all operation group combined, nimodipine vs. no nimodipine p = 0.01; LS with nimodipine vs. LS with no nimodipine, p = 0.03).     

Intracerebral hematomas caused by aneurysm rupture. Experience with 67 cases

During a six-year period (1986–1992) 334 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany. In 281 patients the SAH was caused by rupture of an intracranial arterial aneurysm, verified by angiography, postmortem examination, or at emergency operation without angiography. In 67 (23.8 %) of the 281 aneurysmal SAH patients the initial computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated an intracerebral hematoma (ICH). An ICH localized in the temporal lobe due to the rupture of a middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm was found in 47 patients (70.2 %). Forty-three patients were considered for surgery with a surgical mortality of 8 (18.6 %). In the group of 19 ICH patients not operated upon, 16 individuals died (84.2%).We therefore advocate active surgical management of ICH patients: hematoma evacuation and aneurysm clipping at the same operation. Emergency surgery in younger patients (grade V) with temporal ICH suggesting the rupture of a MCA or internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm can be done without angiography.     

L'Art et la Manière

Summary In the last 3,5 years (up to August 1988) out of 450 patients with surgically treated intracranial aneurysms in 100 cases (22%) acute surgery was performed (up to 72 h after SAH). Patients in grade I-III (WFNS scale) were operated upon. In all the cases there were supratentorial aneurysms. CSF drainage during the operation was used routinely and nimodipine topically, in intravenous infusion and orally was applied. In all the cases, but one, the aneurysms was clipped. Follow-up — 1 year. Assessment of the results was done using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Full recovery was obtained in 78 patients and further 5 patients are independent. There were 14 deaths, in 7 patients due to postoperative vasospasm. Symptomatic ischaemia developed in 25 patients, however, in 15 of them it was fully reversible, due to the possibility of aggressive antivasospastic treatment (hypervolaemia, induced arterial hypertension). The relatively worse results were obtained in patients with chronic arterial hypertension.