Management morbidity and mortality of poor-grade aneurysm patients

Preliminary experience with the occasional good survival of patients in Hunt and Hess Grade IV or V with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) led to a prospective management protocol employed during a 2 1/2-year period. The protocol utilized computerized tomography (CT) scanning to diagnose SAH and to obtain evidence for irreversible brain destruction, consisting of massive cerebral infarction with midline shift or dominant basal ganglia or brain-stem hematoma. These patients, along with those who exhibited poor or absent intracranial filling on CT or angiography, were excluded from active treatment and given supportive care only. All other patients had immediate ventriculostomy placement and, if intracranial pressure (ICP) was controllable (less than or equal to 30 cm H2O without an intracranial clot or less than or equal to 50 cm H2O in the presence of a clot), went on to have craniotomy for aneurysm clipping. Aggressive postoperative hypertensive, hypervolemic, hemodilutional therapy was subsequently employed. Of 54 patients with poor-grade aneurysms, ventriculostomy was placed in 47 (87.0%) and yielded high ICP's in the overwhelming majority, with the mean ICP being 40.2 cm H2O. Nineteen poor-grade aneurysm patients received no surgical treatment and survived a mean of 31.8 hours with 100% mortality. Thirty-five patients underwent placement of a ventriculostomy, craniotomy for aneurysm clipping and intracranial clot evacuation, and postoperative hypertensive, hypervolemic, hemodilutional therapy. The outcome at 3 months of the 35 patients who were selected for active treatment was good in 19 (54.3%), fair in four (11.4%), poor in four (11.4%), and death in eight (22.9%). It is concluded that poor-grade aneurysm patients usually present with intracranial hypertension, even those without an intracranial clot. Based on radiographic rather than neurological criteria, a portion of these patients can be selected for active and successful treatment. Increased ICP can be present without ventriculomegaly, and immediate ventriculostomy should be performed. As long as ICP is controllable, craniotomy and postoperative intensive care can effect a favorable outcome in a significant percentage of these patients.     

Outcome from poor grade aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage--which poor grade subarachnoid haemorrhage patients benefit from aneurysm clipping?

Patients with poor grade aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) are associated with high mortality and morbidity, and hence are often treated conservatively. This study has set out to determine the outcome for all poor grade subarachnoid haemorrhage patients, and attempts to identify a subgroup with a more favourable prognosis. During a prospective audit of patients with aneurysmal SAH, patients of poor grade [World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) IV (and not obeying commands) and V] were sedated, paralysed and ventilated for transfer to the Regional Neurosurgical Unit. Any intraventricular blood and/or hydrocephalus was treated by external ventricular drainage. Following a 24-h period for active blood gas, fluid and electrolyte resuscitation, patients were assessed after reversal of sedation. Selection for angiography and potential aneurysm surgery was restricted to those who showed a purposeful response to painful stimulation. Patients who could readily obey commands were not considered 'true' poor grade and were excluded from analysis. In 102 patients with 'true' poor grade SAH admitted between 1991 and 1997, the overall management outcome at 6 months was poor (favourable outcome 25%, mortality 67%). Following reversal of sedation, 55 patients demonstrated a purposeful response and proceeded to angiography, of whom 37 underwent clipping and three coiling of aneurysm. The outcome in this aneurysm treated subgroup was favourable in 53% (mortality 28%). If patients over the age of 65 years are excluded, the management outcome was favourable in 35% (mortality 58%), with those patients proceeding to clipping or coiling of aneurysms having a favourable outcome in 57% (mortality 27%). Patients over the age of 65 years with poor grade SAH had a favourable outcome in only 6% (mortality 85%). The mortality for poor grade SAH patients remains high. However, following resuscitation and correction of any acute hydrocephalus, a patient subgroup identified on simple clinical criteria can be identified who can expect a better outcome.     

Long-term hypothermia in patients with severe brain edema after poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage: feasibility and intensive care complications

The purpose was to evaluate the feasibility and intensive care complications of long-term hypothermia (>72 hours) in the treatment of severe brain edema after poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) Hunt and Hess grade 4 to 5. Among 156 patients with SAH, 21 patients were treated with mild hypothermia (33.0 to 34.0 degrees C) combined with barbiturate coma because of severe brain edema and elevated intracranial pressure (>15 mm Hg) after early aneurysm clipping. Hypothermia was sustained for at least 24 hours after maintaining an intracranial pressure of <15 mm Hg. Nine patients were treated for <72 hours (group 1: mean 42.2 hours, range 8-66 hours) and 12 for >72 hours (group 2: mean 153.9 hours, range 78-400 hours). Three patients (14%) died during the hypothermia treatment. Good functional outcome after 3 months (Glasgow Outcome Score 4-5) was achieved in 10 patients (48%). The outcome did not differ between the two groups. All patients developed severe infections. In group 2 the mean value of minimal leukocyte counts during hypothermia was significantly lower (6.9 vs. 11.8 x 109/L; P = 0.001), and thrombocytopenia (<150 x 109/L) occurred significantly more often (48 vs. 33%; P = 0.032). In 48% of patients with poor-grade SAH, good functional outcome was achieved with combined mild hypothermia and barbiturate coma after early aneurysm surgery. This may be a feasible treatment even for longer than 72 hours. All patients developed severe infections as potentially hazardous side effects. To determine whether mild hypothermia alone is effective in the treatment of severe SAH patients, controlled studies to compare the effects of barbiturate coma alone, mild hypothermia alone, and combined barbiturate coma with hypothermia are needed.     

Rebleeding of ruptured intracranial aneurysms in the acute stage

We analyzed early aneurysmal rebleeding in 150 consecutive patients who suffered an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and who were admitted within 6 hours of the initial SAH. Of these patients, 33 patients rebled. The first rebleed occurred within 24 hours in 29 patients, among whom 23 cases rebled within 6 hours. The rebleeding rate within 6 hours after the initial SAH was not related to age or sex of the patient; blood pressure on admission; size, shape, or site of aneurysm; or presence or absence of intracerebral hematoma or intraventricular hemorrhage on computed tomography (CT) scan. The patients' clinical condition and SAH on CT scan were graded I-V. Evaluation of rebleeding of those patients with grade V was difficult. In examining the rebleeding rate in grades I-IV, the higher the grade, the greater the rebleeding. Rebleeding developed during angiography conducted within 6 hours from the initial SAH in four cases. This is approximately twofold higher than the rebleeding rate within 6 hours for the total series. It is concluded that rebleeding in the acute stage is predominant within 6 hours from the initial SAH and that this rebleeding rate is higher the more severe the initial SAH is.     

The effect of clipping and coiling in acute severe subarachnoid hemorrhage after international subarachnoid aneurysmal trial (ISAT) results.

Cerebral aneurysms are treated by two methods: direct microsurgical clipping and endovascular coiling. Both are selected based on definite guidelines for clinicoradiological criteria as follows: Endovascular therapy comprising of GDC embolization, CSF wash-out with UK or TP A were performed in cases with Hunt and Kosnik grade 4 (GCS 7, 8), and grade 5 (without hydrocephalus or intracranial hemorrhage), age>70 years, subacute stage (4--14 days of vasospasm), basilar aneurysm and peripheral MCA/PCA aneurysms. Microsurgical clipping with a drainage procedure was performed in cases with Hunt and Kosnik grades 0--3, grade 4 (GCS 9--12), age less than 70 years, grade 5 with hydrocephalus or intracerebral hematoma and acute stage (0--3 days after bleed). The patient's outcome was measured using GOS (Glasgow outcome score) at the time of discharge. In our series of severe (poor grade) SAH cases, 120 cases underwent clipping and 59 cases underwent coiling. Although they accounted for 37.8 % and 48 % of total SAH cases, respectively, the outcome was satisfactory. Good recovery and moderate disability, together termed "favorable outcome" was found in 69.16 % of clipping cases and 44.06 % of coiling cases. Clipping had a better outcome than coiling in cases of acute severe SAH in our series. The golden hour resuscitation, pre-hospital care and the adjunctive treatment strategies like hypothermia are discussed. A critical appraisal of the ISAT of microsurgical clipping versus coiling is used for comparison of our results.     

Predicting the overall management outcome in patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage accompanied by a massive intracerebral or full-packed intraventricular hemorrhage: a 15-year retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) accompanied by a massive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) or a full-packed intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) have poor outcomes. We evaluated the clinical factors to predict the overall outcome in such patients. METHODS: Data on nontraumatic SAH patients were collected and classified into 3 groups: the pure SAH group (SAH accompanied with neither ICH nor IVH), the ICH group (SAH accompanied with a massive ICH; hematoma 30 mL), and the IVH group (SAH and all ventricles were full-packed with hematoma). One hundred seventy-nine patients were in the ICH group and 109 in the IVH group. We evaluated clinical factors, such as the Hunt & Hess (H&H) score on admission, age, sex, history, rebleeding ratio, and the computerized tomography findings (SAH score). RESULTS: The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis of clinical variables in the ICH group, good and intermediate H&H grades, younger age (<70), no rebleeding, and lower SAH score were associated with a favorable outcome. In the result of the multivariate logistic regression analysis of clinical variables in the IVH group, only a higher SAH score was associated with an unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In the ICH group, factors that could be used to predict a favorable outcome included good and intermediate H&H scores (1, 2, and 3) on admission, younger age (<70), and a lower SAH score. In the IVH group, the main factor that could be used to predict a favorable outcome was a lower SAH score.     

Results of early surgical evacuation of packed intraventricular hemorrhage from aneurysm rupture in patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to evaluate the results of early surgical evacuation of "packed" intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: The authors performed surgery within 24 hours after onset of SAH, identified on neuroimaging as a cast distending the ventricular system, in 74 patients with poor-grade SAH (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Grades IV and V) without intracerebral hemorrhage. Eighteen of these patients had packed IVH; in these patients the intraventricular clots were extensively evacuated via frontal corticotomy performed under microscopic view. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 42% of the 74 patients undergoing craniotomy in the acute stage had favorable outcomes, whereas 30% died. Using multivariate analysis, variables significantly associated with favorable outcome in patients with poor-grade SAH included absence of a packed intraventricular clot on computerized tomography scanning; absence of a history of cardiac disease; and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 11 or 12. None of the 18 patients who had packed IVH had favorable outcomes and seven of these died. In six recently treated patients with packed IVH, which was examined using fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging, extensive periventricular brain damage was found both immediately after surgery and during the chronic stage. Accordingly, the authors believe that irreversible periventricular brain damage is already complete immediately after packed IVH occurs.     

Unfavorable outcome following early surgical repair of ruptured cerebral aneurysms--a critical review of 238 patients

Among 238 consecutive patients admitted early with ruptured cerebral aneurysms, surgical repair within 48-72 hours was feasible in 200 cases. Unfavorable outcomes among the latter 200 patients are analyzed and discussed in this paper. Preoperatively, 148 patients were in Hunt and Hess grades I-III, 33 were in grade IV, and 19 in grade V. After clipping of the aneurysm, all patients received a regimen of topical intracisternal and intravenous/peroral medication with the calcium antagonist nimodipine. The overall rate of unfavorable outcomes was 25%, ie, outcome with moderate or severe deficit or lethal outcome. The reasons for unfavorable outcomes among these 49 patients were the devastating effect of the bleed (severe subarachnoid hemorrhage or additional intracerebral hemorrhage) in 31 patients (15% of the 200 patients), a surgical complication in 11 (5.5%), preoperative rebleeding in three (1.5%), delayed ischemia from vasospasm in one (0.5%), and various others in three further patients (1.5%). Unfavorable outcome occurred in 11% of patients with preoperative grades I-III, in 52% of patients with grade IV, and in 16 of 19 patients with grade V. Among the 141 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage but not intracerebral or intraventricular hematoma, 16 made an unfavorable outcome, ie, 11% versus 56% among patients with intracerebral hematoma/intraventricular hematoma on preoperative computed tomography scan. The present data seem to speak in favor of early surgery. Since half of the patients with intracerebral hematoma and poor outcome had suffered previous warning leaks, it appears to be a continuing challenge to diagnose warning leaks before a massive hemorrhage occurs.     

Resolution of cranial nerve paresis after endovascular management of cerebral aneurysms

BACKGROUND: This work aimed to study the outcome of endovascular (coiling and balloon occlusion) treatment in patients with aneurysmal mass effect (ophthalmoplegia due to third, fourth, or sixth CN paresis) and to compare it with the outcome of clipping (from the international literature). We looked at the outcome of endovascular treatment of CNP (third, fourth, and sixth) due to aneurysmal mass effect (PcomA aneurysms and intracavernous carotid aneurysms). METHODS: Between January 1999 and December 2004, 820 patients presented with aneurysmal SAH and/or mass effect. Eleven of these patients (1%) presented with third, and/or fourth, and/or sixth nerve dysfunctions and underwent endovascular treatment. The degree of the ophthalmoplegia was recorded at presentation, 2 months, 6 months, and yearly intervals thereafter. We correlated recovery of CNP to SAH, duration of the symptoms, degree of CNP, type of CNP, microvascular risks (age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking), aneurysm size, and degree of coiling or balloon occlusion. RESULTS: The study showed a favorable outcome of endovascular treatment in the majority of patients. Resolution of CN dysfunctions occurred in 7 (64%) of 11 patients. The late follow-up showed that all the 7 patients are resuming normal life activities. This compares favorably to the results after clipping in [Leivo, Hemesniemi, Luukkonen, & Vapalahti, 1996] (41%). Presentation with SAH and isolated third CNP correlated with a better resolution of CNP (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Although mass effect remains after endovascular packing, CNP improves comparably to the recovery observed after surgical clipping. It seems likely that the decrease in aneurysmal pulsatility is responsible for the improvement of the CNP. The relatively atraumatic approach associated with endovascular management explains the favorable results. All previous reports assessed the outcome of only the third CNP after endovascular treatment in a very limited number of cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the outcome of various CNP after endovascular treatment.     

Admission blood glucose levels and early change of neurological grade in poor-grade patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage

Summary Background. The neurological grade of poor-grade subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) often changes soon after the patient is admitted to the hospital. It is important to closely monitor for such changes within a short period of time after admission; however, there are other problems that can occur during this time such as rebleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between admission blood glucose levels (ABGL) and early change of neurological grade after admission in patients with poor-grade SAH. Methods. Forty-six patients with poor-grade SAH (Hunt & Kosnik Grade IV or V), who were admitted within 3 hrs after SAH onset, and who did not have haematomas causing mass effect, or a history of diabetes mellitus, were included in the study. Patients were pretreated to control blood pressure and intracranial pressure, and they were monitored for early change of grade after admission. Blood glucose level was measured at the time of admission. Findings. Spontaneous grade improvement was observed in 9 of 17 Grade IV patients and 9 of 29 Grade V patients. The ABGL of the patients with grade improvement were significantly lower than the ABGL of the patients who did not improve or who got worse. ABGL were lower than 180 mg/dl in 15 of 18 patients who showed grade improvement. Conclusions. Our results showed that there was a relationship between ABGL and neurological grade changes which were observed after admission in patients with poor-grade SAH. These results suggest that ABGL might be a useful parameter for making therapeutic decisions.     

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.     

Association between elevated plasma norepinephrine levels and cardiac wall motion abnormality in poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage patients

Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are frequently complicated by acute cardiac dysfunctions, including cardiac wall motion abnormality (WMA). Massive release of catecholamine into the systemic circulation after aneurysmal rupture is believed to result in WMA, and poor-grade SAH seems to be the most important risk factor. However, plasma catecholamine levels have rarely been measured in SAH patients with WMA, and previous studies indicated that the elevated levels might not necessarily predict WMA. The objective of this study is (1) to evaluate relationship between WMA and plasma catecholamine levels in poor-grade SAH patients in the acute phase and (2) to clarify clinical characteristics of SAH patients with WMA. Among 142 poor-grade (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grades IV and V) SAH patients, 48 underwent both transthoracic ultrasound and measurement of plasma catecholamine levels within 24 h of SAH onset. They were divided into WMA+ (n?=?23) and WMA? (n?=?25) groups, and intergroup comparison was made on demographics, plasma catecholamine levels, and outcomes. Plasma norepinephrine levels were significantly higher in WMA+ group than in WMA? group (2,098.4?±?1,773.4 vs. 962.9?±?838.9 pg/mL, p?=?0.02), and the former showed significantly worse outcomes 90 days after admission. There were no intergroup differences in the plasma levels of epinephrine. Plasma norepinephrine levels were inversely correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increased plasma norepinephrine levels were predictive of WMA, although age, female sex, and grade V SAH were not. This retrospective study highlights the role of norepinephrine in pathogenesis of SAH-induced WMA.     

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.     

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.     

Relationship between intracranial pressure and other clinical variables in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

OBJECT: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is well known to affect adversely patients with head injury. In contrast, the variables associated with ICP following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and their impact on outcome have been less intensely studied. METHODS: In this retrospective study the authors reviewed a prospective observational database cataloging the treatment details in 433 patients with SAH who had undergone surgical occlusion of an aneurysm as well as ICP monitoring. All 433 patients underwent postoperative ICP monitoring, whereas only 146 (33.7%) underwent both pre- and postoperative ICP monitoring. The mean maximal ICP was 24.9 +/- 17.3 mm Hg (mean +/- standard deviation). During their hospital stay, 234 patients (54%) had elevated ICP (> 20 mm Hg), including 136 of those (48.7%) with a good clinical grade (Hunt and Hess Grades I-III) and 98 (63.6%) of the 154 patients with a poor grade (Hunt and Hess Grades IV and V) on admission. An increased mean maximal ICP was associated with several admission variables: worse Hunt and Hess clinical grade (p < 0.0001), a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC) motor score (p < 0.0001); worse SAH grade based on results of computerized tomography studies (p < 0.0001); intracerebral hemorrhage (p = 0.024); severity of intraventricular hemorrhage (p < 0.0001); and rebleeding (p = 0.0048). Both intraoperative cerebral swelling (p = 0.0017) and postoperative GCS score (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with a raised ICP. Variables such as patient age, aneurysm size, symptomatic vasospasm, intraoperative aneurysm rupture, and secondary cerebral insults such as hypoxia were not associated with raised ICP. Increased ICP adversely affected outcome: 71.9% of patients with normal ICP demonstrated favorable 6-month outcomes postoperatively, whereas 63.5% of patients with ICP between 20 and 50 mm Hg and 33.3% with ICP greater than 50 mm Hg demonstrated favorable outcomes. Among 21 patients whose raised ICP did not respond to mannitol therapy, all experienced a poor outcome and 95.2% died. Among 145 patients whose elevated ICP responded to mannitol, 66.9% had a favorable outcome and only 20.7% were dead 6 months after surgery (p < 0.0001). According to results of multivariate analysis, however, ICP was not an independent outcome predictor (odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 0.28-5.68). CONCLUSIONS: Increased ICP is common after SAH, even in patients with a good clinical grade. Elevated ICP post-SAH is associated with a worse patient outcome, particularly if ICP does not respond to treatment. This association, however, may depend more on the overall severity of the SAH than on ICP alone.     

Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: an underappreciated ventricular dysfunction

OBJECT: Neurogenic stunned myocardium in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with a wide spectrum of reversible left ventricular wall motion abnormalities and includes a subset of patients with a pattern of apical akinesia and concomitant sparing of basal segments called "tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy". METHODS: After obtaining institutional review board approval, the authors retrospectively identified among all patients admitted to the Mayo Clinic's Neurological Intensive Care Unit between January 1990 and January 2005 those with aneurysmal SAH who had met the echocardiographic criteria for tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. Among 24 patients with SAH-induced reversible cardiac dysfunction, the authors identified eight with SAH-induced tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. All eight patients were women with a mean age of 55.5 years (range 38.6-71.1). Seven patients presented with a poor-grade SAH, reflected by a Hunt and Hess grade of III or IV. Four patients underwent aneurysm clip application, and four underwent endovascular coil occlusion. The initial mean ejection fraction (EF) was 38% (range 25-55%), and the mean EF at recovery was 55% (range 40-68%). Cerebral vasospasm developed in six patients, but cerebral infarction developed in only three patients. CONCLUSIONS: The authors describe the largest cohort with aneurysmal SAH-induced tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. In the SAH population, tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy predominates in postmenopausal women and is often associated with pulmonary edema, prolonged intubation, and cerebral vasospasm. Additional studies are warranted to understand the complex mechanism involved in tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy and its intriguing relationship to neurogenic stunned myocardium.     

Early aneurysm surgery and dehydration therapy in patients with severe subarachnoid haemorrhage without ICH

Summary We prospectively analysed treatment results in patients with severe subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) who underwent early aneurysm surgery, and were managed by dehydration therapy. We studied a total of 31 patients with poor-grade SAH including 18 in grade IV, and 13 in grade V according to the WFNS classification system. Patients who were older than 70 years of age, or those with an intracerebral haemorrhage or absent brainstem response were excluded from this study. At surgery, clot evacuation from the peribrainstem cisterns with/without external decompression was performed following obliteration of the aneurysmal neck. In the early postoperative period, patients were maintained in negative water balance using osmotic diuretics. When delayed ischaemic deficits had manifested themselves, the pulmonary wedge pressure and/or central venous pressure was immediately increased by the rapid injection of albumin until hypovolaemia reverted to normovolaemia with the continuous administration of dobutamine. The outcome at 3 months was good recovery in 16 (52%) patients, moderate disability in 3 (10%), severe disability in 5 (16%), a vegetative state in 1 (3%), and death in 6 (19%). We thought that early aneurysm surgery and postoperative dehydration therapy in the acute stages of brain oedema resulting from primary brain damage are effective in the treatment of patients with severe SAH but reversilbe primary brain damage.     

Nitric oxide and subarachnoid hemorrhage: elevated level in cerebrospinal fluid and their implications

OBJECTIVE: Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neuronal injury after brain ischemia, and decreased levels of NO have been implicated in the pathogenesis of vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In this study, we measured the ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NO levels in patients with SAH and correlated the levels with clinical grade and middle cerebral artery velocities measured with transcranial Doppler ultrasound. METHODS: All patients with spontaneous SAH documented on computed tomography and with an external ventricular drain inserted within 24 hours of hemorrhage were included in the study. A total of 16 patients were studied between August 1999 and August 2000. CSF was collected serially at the time of surgery and subsequently at daily intervals. It was collected during the time that the external ventricular drain remained patent and in situ. NO levels were measured by photometric analysis by using a nitrite/nitrate assay kit (Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbor, MI). RESULTS: The peak NO level in patients with SAH ranged from 9.96 to 168.16 micromol, with a median of 36.93 micromol. The levels were significantly elevated as compared with the control group (5.16 micromol, P < 0.05). The median NO level in patients with poor-grade SAH was 67.14 micromol as compared with 27.42 micromol in patients with good-grade hemorrhage (P < 0.05). No correlation was seen between CSF NO levels and middle cerebral artery velocities. The median NO level was 33.2 micromol in patients with a poor outcome as compared with 30.25 micromol in patients with a good outcome (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that NO levels are elevated after spontaneous SAH, and the degree of elevation is higher in patients with poor-grade SAH.     

Indications for cisternal drainage in conjunction with early surgery in ruptured aneurysms and timing of its discontinuation

The efficacy of cisternal drainage in association with early aneurysmal surgery remains highly controversial. The authors attempted to clarify the indications for this procedure and the proper timing of drainage removal in a series of 205 patients with no evidence of intracerebral hematoma who underwent surgical obliteration of bleeding aneurysms within 72 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The 136 patients in whom cisternal drainage was performed constituted Group A and the remaining 69 patients Group B. The acid-base balance and lactate concentration were measured serially in cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and arterial blood of 33 patients. Subarachnoid blood demonstrated by computed tomography (CT) was graded according to the system of Fisher et al. The outcome at 6 months did not differ significantly between Groups A and B among patients of preoperative CT grade 2 and clinical grades I-II. However, among patients of CT grade 3 or clinical grade III, those in Group A had better outcomes. The rates of symptomatic vasospasm in Groups A and B were 39.7% and 40.6%, respectively. However, persistent vasospasm was more frequent in Group B (11.8% vs. 26.1%), particularly in CT grade 3 patients. Ventricular enlargement was more prevalent in Group A (33% vs. 17%). CSF pH higher than arterial pH after the 7th postoperative day was associated with a poor outcome and was fairly well correlated with a rise in CSF HCO3- and a fall in CSF PCO2. CSF lactate increased with clinical deterioration but was not well correlated with preoperative CT findings, total volume of CSF outflow, or prognosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cocaine use as a predictor of outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to analyze the relationship between cocaine use and outcomes of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of the medical records of patients with intracranial aneurysms treated at a single institution between January 1996 and December 2001. Only patients who presented with SAH were included in the study. The covariates chosen for the statistical analysis included the following: patient age, sex, and race; systolic and mean arterial blood pressure measurements on hospital admission; Hunt and Hess and Fisher grades; pre-existent major systemic disease; and history of alcohol, tobacco, or cocaine use. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was used to standardize outcome and was dichotomized such that a score between 1 and 3 was considered a poor outcome and a score of 4 or 5 was considered a favorable outcome. The records of 151 patients were reviewed and 108 of these presented with aneurysmal SAH. Of these 108 patients, 36 (33.3%) had used cocaine within 24 hours before presentation. A Hunt and Hess grade of IV or V was assigned to 20 (55.6%) of 36 patients who used cocaine, compared with eight (11.1%) of 72 patients who did not; this difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Twenty-eight patients (77.8%) in the cocaine user group and 20 patients (27.8%) in the non-cocaine user group experienced clinically significant, angiographically confirmed vasospasm during their hospital course (p < 0.0001). Cocaine use was associated with a 2.8-fold greater risk of developing vasospasm (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.86-4.22). A GOS score of 1, 2, or 3 was assigned to 33 patients (91.7%) in the cocaine user group and to 20 patients (27.8%) in the non-cocaine user group (p < 0.0001). Cocaine use was associated with a 3.3-fold greater risk of poor outcome (95% CI 2.24-4.85). This association was found to be independent of Hunt and Hess grade as well as of vasospasm. CONCLUSIONS: Cocaine adversely affects both the presentation of and outcome in patients with aneurysmal SAH who are undergoing treatment for this disease. The vasoactive properties of the drug appear to aggravate the already tenuous situation of SAH and increase both the occurrence and influence of cerebral vasospasm. Statistical analysis demonstrates that cocaine directly affects both presentation and outcome in a significant manner. It is the authors' interpretation of the results of this retrospective review that cocaine use negatively affects outcome to such an extent that it should be considered equal to the presence of a major systemic illness when determining Hunt and Hess grade.