Poor-grade ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm with intracerebral hematoma: bleeding characteristics and management

Poor-grade ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm is frequently associated with intraparenchymal hemorrhage, which is associated with high morbidity rates. We analyzed the clinical presentations and surgical strategies of 23 cases of ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm. Hematomas were divided into three types: temporal hematoma (7 patients), sylvian hematoma (10 patients), and frontal hematoma (6 patients). In 13 of 23 patients, preoperative brainstem symptoms suggested impeding uncal herniation. Surgical procedures included external decompression in 11 patients, simple lateral temporal lobectomy in 5, and selective uncectomy in 9. Three patients died. Favorable outcome defined as upper half of severely disabled or better in the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale was achieved in 13 patients. Patients with frontal hematomas presented with both uncal herniation and brainstem signs preoperatively, but this subgroup showed unexpectedly good recovery. Patients with sylvian hematomas had relatively poor outcomes. The present series suggests that aggressive decompression and evacuation of hematoma in the acute stage may prevent significant postoperative brain swelling, and will not compromise the treatment of vasospasm.     

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysm: site of aneurysm and rCBF

To investigate the relationship between the site of ruptured cerebral aneurysm and rCBF, 92 measurements of rCBF were conducted in 57 patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Excluded from this study were patients with multiple aneurysms, intracerebral hematoma, and/or hydrocephalus. Twenty-four patients had the anterior communicating aneurysm (A-com), 20 patients had the internal carotid aneurysm (ICA), and 13 patients had the middle cerebral aneurysm (MCA). All patients underwent unilateral fronto-temporal craniotomy for clipping of the aneurysm and their rCBF measurements, using the xenon-133 inhalation method, were performed in the first three weeks after surgery. In each rCBF measurement, the hemispheric mean value of initial slope index (meanISI) was calculated in both cerebral hemispheres, that is, in the cerebral hemispheres ipsilateral and contralateral to craniotomy. The authors defined the "symmetry index of the meanISI (%): symmetry index" as the ratio of the meanISI in the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to craniotomy compared to the meanISI in the cerebral hemisphere contralateral to craniotomy. There was no significant relationship between the site of aneurysm and the meanISI in both hemispheres, and this result suggests that the site of aneurysm makes no difference in the incidence of vasospasm. In the postoperative first week, the "symmetry index" was 91.2 +/- 7.4% in MCA, 95.3 +/- 4.1% in ICA, and 97.9 +/- 8.2% in A-com; that is, MCA had significant asymmetry of meanCBF compared with A-com (p less than 0.05). In the second and third postoperative weeks, there was no significant relationship between the site of aneurysm and the asymmetry of meanCBF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Very late-onset symptomatic cerebral vasospasm caused by a large residual aneurysmal subarachnoid hematoma--case report

A 70-year-old female developed delayed ischemic neurological deficits at 35 days after subarachnoid hemorrhage (Hunt and Kosnik grade III, Fisher group 4) caused by a ruptured aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery. Angiography indicated late-onset cerebral vasospasm probably due to the mass effect of a large hematoma remaining in the sylvian fissure and an intracerebral hematoma after surgery. Patients with a large subarachnoid hematoma after subarachnoid hemorrhage should receive therapy to prevent cerebral vasospasm until the mass effect of the hematoma has diminished.     

Intraparenchymal and intrasylvian haematomas secondary to ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms: prognostic factors and therapeutic considerations.

The aim of this study was to investigate prognostic factors and the most appropriate treatment for patients with ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms in relation to haematoma distribution. Ninety-two patients with ruptured MCA aneurysms, who underwent surgery during the last 11 years from 1986 to 1996, were assigned to one of the three groups according to the haematoma distribution. Group A comprised 17 patients who had an intraparenchymal haematoma (IPH) larger than 30 mm (maximum diameter) with or without subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), group B comprised 24 patients having a dense intra-Sylvian fissure haematoma (ISH) larger than 30 mm (maximum diameter) and group C consisted of 52 patients having only diffuse SAH without a localized dense haematoma. The clinical course and factors affecting the outcome of the patients in each group were investigated. Patients in groups A and B had a more severe clinical grade on admission than those in group C. As a result, patients in these two groups had a poorer outcome. In group C, independent life was achieved for 98% of the patients. In group A, the clinical grade on admission and the diameter of the haematoma were significantly correlated with outcome. Initial brain damage due to IPHs seemed to be the main cause of disability, while only 7% developed delayed ischaemic neurological deficits (DIND). In group B, 54% of patients suffered from subsequent brain oedema and DIND occurred in 50%. These factors were related to a poor outcome. The MCA aneurysms tend to have localized dense haematomas, as well as diffuse SAH; the former seems to affect more on the course and outcome of the patients. Accurate assessment of the bleeding patterns in patients with ruptured MCA aneurysms will be useful in helping us predict the clinical course and the most appropriate treatment for these individuals.     

Aneurysms at the early branch of middle cerebral artery

The cortical arteries arising from the proximal (Ml) segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) are called "early branches". We retrospectively analyzed clinical features in 10 patients with aneurysms located at the early branches of MCA. The incidence of these aneurysms was 9.5% among 95 MCA aneurysms. Patients consisted of 4 males and 6 females. Ages were 33-77 years old (average of 54.4). Four patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (2 of them had intracerebral hematoma). The aneurysms were classified into 2 groups, the group of the early frontal branch (EFB: 7 cases) and the early temporal branch (ETB: 3 cases). All aneurysms were smaller than 6mm in diameter. The surgical treatment was performed through the pterional approach. Poor outcome occurred in 3 ruptured aneurysms of EFB (MD 1, SD 1, and D 1). At surgery, it is necessary to produce the working space by dissecting sylvian fissure sufficiently and to prevent ischemic complication by avoiding injury of the lenticulostriate arteries (LSA).     

无蛛网膜下腔出血的大脑中动脉动脉瘤破裂

目的总结无蛛网膜下腔出血（SAH）的大脑中动脉（MCA）动脉瘤破裂的临床特点。方法对6例在首次CT扫描上表现为脑内出血（ICH），或壁内出血（IMH）而无SAH的MCA动脉瘤破裂患者的临床表现、影像学检查、治疗方法和预后进行回顾性总结。结果本组首次CT扫描时间为起病后0—2d，表现为单纯ICH者4例，IMH者2例。DSA和手术证实为MCA动脉瘤破裂。开颅动脉瘤切除1例，夹闭5例，其中4例同时行血肿清除术。术后无死亡。结论MCA动脉瘤破裂首次CT扫描可仅表现为ICH或IMH而无SAH，与动脉瘤的部位、出血量以及CT扫描时间相关。     

Subdural hematoma due to ruptured intracranial aneurysm.

Subdural hematoma (SDH) was observed in 15 of 484 cases of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). There were four males and 11 females, with ages ranging from 39 to 75 years. The clinical grades (Hunt and Hess) on admission were 11 in three cases, III in two, IV in four, and V in six. The ruptured aneurysms were located in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in six cases, anterior communicating artery in three, internal carotid artery in two, and distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) in two, with two cases unconfirmed. A high proportion of aneurysms occurred in the MCA and distal ACA. Aneurysmal neck clipping and removal of SDH were performed in the acute stage of seven cases, without intraoperative rerupture. The outcomes 1 year after SAH of the seven patients undergoing surgery were good recovery in five, but in two, vegetative state due to preoperative rerupture or medical complications. All eight patients without surgical intervention died. A good prognosis for patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms accompanied by SDH can be expected with direct surgical intervention in the acute stage, even if the clinical grade on admission is poor.     

Analysis of 53 ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms

In spite of a recent remarkable progress in operative results of ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms, a mortality rate of 2-8% appears to be unavoidable. In the present study, 53 ruptured MCA aneurysms were retrospectively analyzed to determine causative factors of unfortunate outcome (fair, poor and dead). Surgical results of 53 ruptured MCA aneurysms are shown in Table 1, where the outcome was unfortunate in 7 cases (17%). Intracerebral hematoma was responsible for 4 cases, two of which were fatal and postoperative vasospasm for 3 cases. There were 13 cases with intracerebral hematomas (25%) ranging from 21 mm to 68 mm in diameter. Although hematomas less than 40 mm in diameter localized in temporal or frontal subcortical areas and yielded no neurological deficits, those more than 60mm extended to the caudate nucleus or thalamus through the internal capsule and led to deep coma (Table 2, Fig. 1). Intracerebral hematoma with the diameter between 50 to 60 mm seems to be critical in regard to postoperative outcome. Repeated rupture caused intracerebral hematoma (50%) more frequently than single rupture (21%) and aneurysm with intracerebral hematoma was liable to bleed (27%), resulting in acute deterioration of neurological conditions by marked enlargement of the hematoma (Fig. 2). Accordingly it is essential for the cases with intracerebral hematoma to prevent rerupture. Subarachnoid hemorrhage and symptomatic vasospasm were observed less frequently in hematoma group than in non-hematoma group. However, prophylactic treatment of vasospasm is important even in the cases with intracerebral hematoma since more than half of them suffer from relatively thicker subarachnoid clot.     

Dissecting aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery (M1-2 portion) with subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case report

We report a SAH case of a ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery following parietooccipital subcortical hemorrhage. A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital, complaining of headache. On admission she was alert with left homonymous hemianopsia. A CT scan disclosed subcortical hemorrhage in the right parieto-occipital lobe. An angiogram revealed no abnormal vessels. Seven days after admission, she suddenly lapsed into unconsciousness with left hemiparesis. A CT scan demonstrated subarachnoid hemorrhage with a right sylvian hematoma. A second angiogram revealed fusiform dilatation of the M2 branches and aneurysmal dilatation at the M1-M2 bifurcation. Following conservative therapy, she died 21 days after admission. The relationship between subcortical hemorrhage and the subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage was not certain. We discuss and review the treatment of a dissecting aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery.     

Case volume does not correlate with outcome after cerebral aneurysm clipping: a nationwide study in Japan

The present study analyzed the impact of case volume on outcome after cerebral aneurysm clipping at all 382 core neurosurgical training centers certified by the Japan Neurosurgical Society. A survey requested information on all clipping surgeries for cerebral aneurysms performed during 2003. Among these centers, 369 (96.6%) responded to our request and data satisfactory for analysis were obtained for 11,974 patients. Clinical condition was graded on admission according to the classification of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. Outcomes were evaluated at discharge using the modified Rankin scale. Case volume at centers was divided into three groups based on the number of clippings (<30, 30-50, >or=50) performed in 2003. Totals of 7,578 (63.3%) and 4,396 (36.7%) patients underwent clipping for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, respectively. The mortality rate was 9.6% for patients with ruptured aneurysms, and 0.2% for patients with unruptured aneurysms. No significant correlation was detected between case volume and outcome for either ruptured (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.034, p = 0.483) or unruptured aneurysms (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.029, p = 0.562). Furthermore, no relationships between case volume and outcome were identified for ruptured aneurysms in each neurological grade or unruptured aneurysms (Kruskal-Wallis test).     

Midaortic syndrome and subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm: case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We describe the presentation, screening, management, and clinical outcome of a 21-year-old man who sought care for a ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm and midaortic syndrome (MAS). Only three cases of MAS and intracranial aneurysm rupture have previously been described in the literature. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Cranial computed tomographic (CT) scanning, cerebral and abdominal angiography, and multislice three-dimensional CT angiography were used to evaluate intracerebral hemorrhage and to assess medically intractable hypertension in the patient. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a right MCA aneurysm, and multislice three-dimensional CT angiography revealed narrowing of the abdominal aorta. INTERVENTION: The patient's right MCA aneurysm was successfully clipped via a right pterional craniotomy. A narrowed abdominal aorta was confirmed by an abdominal aortic angiogram (performed at Day 5 after surgery) and then dilated by using percutaneous transcatheter angioplasty during the same session. The patient was normotensive even without antihypertensive medications. Neurological examination and postoperative cranial CT findings were within normal limits at the last follow-up examination, performed 4 months after the operation. CONCLUSION: Our patient is the first reported case of ruptured MCA aneurysm with MAS in an adult. The most important problem in the management of MAS associated with ruptured intracranial aneurysm is medically intractable hypertension, which may markedly increase the incidence of rebleeding. It is hard to achieve normotension unless the narrowed aorta and its branches are dilated. For these reasons, MAS should be considered in patients with medically intractable hypertension associated with ruptured intracranial aneurysm.     

Paradoxical association of moyamoya syndrome with large middle cerebral artery aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Case report

A 69-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fluctuating dysarthria during the past 2 months. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed old cerebral infarction of the left cerebral hemisphere with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage in the left sylvian fissure. Cerebral angiography showed a large saccular aneurysm, 14 mm in diameter, at the bifurcation of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) in association with moyamoya vasculopathy with atherosclerosis, including steno-occlusive changes at the bilateral terminal internal carotid arteries and abnormal net-like vessels at the base of the brain. She underwent microsurgical neck clipping of the large aneurysm followed by superficial temporal artery-MCA anastomosis without complication. Intraoperative findings showed no evidence of aneurysm rupture, suggesting that the subarachnoid hemorrhage was due to the intrinsic pathology of moyamoya vasculopathy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged without neurological deficit. Association of moyamoya syndrome with large MCA aneurysm is extremely rare, and formation of large aneurysm at the vascular territory of an occluded vessel is apparently unique.     

A surgically treated case with a ruptured bacterial aneurysm of the middle cerebral arterial bifurcation following occlusion

A 56-year-old woman with aortic regurgitation (AR) developd a high fever on April 25th, 2003, followed by the sudden onset of left hemiparesis and dysarthria on May 10th, 2003. MRI and MRA showed cerebral infarction due to occlusion of the right proximal portion of the middle cerebral artery. Streptococcus was isolated from arterial blood culture at the time of admission and cardiac examination such as echocardiography revealed active infective endocarditis. Cerebral angiography on the 31st day after the onset of symptoms demonstrated a fusiform-shaped aneurysm at the occluded M2 portion of the middle cerebral artery. Despite administration of antibiotics, a small subcortical hematoma was observed in the right temporal lobe surrounding the aneurysm on the 35th day. The direct surgery of aneurysmal trapping and resection was subsequently performed to prevent rebleeding. The sylvian fissure and perianeurysmal area were strongly adherent to granulation tissue and blood clot. After exposing the aneurysm, the dilated portion of the vessel was successfully trapped and resected. Other than residual left hemiparesis, the postoperative course was uneventful. Histological examination confirmed bacterial aneurysm due to bacterial embolization originating from infective endocarditis (IE). We report a rare case having a ruptured bacterial aneurysm of the middle cerebral arterial bifurcation requiring surgery following occlusion due to bacterial embolization after sepsis and meningitis due to infective endocarditis.     

Subarachnoid haemorrhage of unknown aetiology

Summary The authors review the literature on subarachnoid haemorrhage of unknown aetiology (SAHUE) and analyze a personal series of 212 patients diagnosed as SAHUE. These patients represent 30% of all cases of primary SAH admitted over a 14.5 year period.The age, sex, antecedents and initial clinical presentation of patients with SAHUE were indistinguishable from those of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage due to ruptured aneurysm (SAHRA). However, the present series of SAHUE compare favourably with both a personal and a previously reported series of SAHRA insofar as clinical grade on admission (94% of patients in grades I–II of Botterell), presence of blood on CT (51%), vasospasm (5%), ischaemic deficits (3.3%), persistent hydrocephalus (3.5%), rebleeding (6%) and fatal result (3.9%) are concerned.The amount of blood on CT scan in our patients with SAHUE was associated with a significantly higher incidence of brain ischaemia and hydrocephalus but did not correlate with the Botterell grade on admission or final outcome, which were good in the majority of cases regardless of the presence or not of visible cisternal haemorrhage. The results of the present series confirm that the final prognosis of patients with primary SAH showing normal four-vessel cerebral angiography is essentially favourable.     

Serious complications of microvascular decompression operations for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm

Serious complications of microvascular decompression operations for trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm are reported. Among 278 patients who underwent microvascular decompression, 9 serious complications were observed: 1 intracerebellar hematoma with acute hydrocephalus, 1 cerebellar swelling with acute hydrocephalus, 1 supratentorial acute subdural hematoma, 2 status epilepticus, 1 infarction of the brain stem, 1 subarachnoid hemorrhage due to traumatic aneurysm, and 1 infarction in the territory of the posterior cerebral artery. Of the 9 patients with such complications, 2 died. The possible causes of such serious complications are discussed.     

Immune complexes and complement activation following rupture of intracranial saccular aneurysms

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) and complement activation (plasma C3d levels) were monitored during a 2-week period in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms and also in patients with cerebral hematoma unrelated to saccular aneurysms. Thirteen of 18 aneurysm patients were found to have CIC on admission as compared to three of 21 healthy blood donors (p less than 0.001). The presence of CIC in aneurysm patients was associated with a poor prognosis. Eight of nine patients who developed angiographic vasospasm had CIC on admission compared with one of four without vasospasm. Patients with vasospasm showed a twofold increase in plasma C3d levels at the time when the spasm occurred, whereas no significant changes in the C3d concentration could be demonstrated in aneurysm patients without spasm or in patients with hematoma unrelated to aneurysm rupture. These findings suggest that immunological processes involving complement-activating immune complexes are involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm following rupture of saccular aneurysms.     

Thrombosed unruptured cerebral aneurysm causing brain infarction followed by subarachnoid hemorrhage--case report--

A 71-year-old man presented with right hemiparesis and aphasia due to cerebral infarction in the frontal lobe. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a high-density mass, 12 mm in diameter, in the stem of the left sylvian fissure. Carotid angiography demonstrated occlusion of the left ascending frontal artery complex and retention of contrast medium at the bifurcation of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA). The diagnosis was cerebral infarction caused by occlusion of the ascending frontal artery complex resulting from thrombosed left MCA aneurysm. The patient was managed conservatively and his neurological symptoms gradually improved. One month later, he lapsed into a coma. CT revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage. Carotid angiography showed a large left MCA aneurysm with branch occlusion of the left ascending frontal artery complex. A left frontotemporal craniotomy was performed. The MCA aneurysm was opened and the intramural thrombi removed, and finally neck clipping was performed. The patient made a good postoperative recovery.     

Spontaneous dissecting aneurysm of middle cerebral artery: a case report with review of the literature.

We report a case of a dissecting aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and its treatment strategies. A 50-year-old male patient presented with occipital and neck pain for 2 days. CT scan revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the region of the right sylvian fissure. A left carotid angiogram showed a dissecting aneurysm of the left MCA (M1). He was treated surgically by a pterional trans-sylvian approach. Clipping was done along with additional reinforcement by wrapping to completely obliterate the neck of the aneurysm. On reviewing the literature, we think that dissecting aneurysms seem to be one of the important causes of SAH and cerebral infarction of unverified origin. If an MCA dissecting aneurysm is identified, especially located in the proximal portion, surgical treatment must be considered. These patients merit a close follow-up.     

Ipsilateral hemiparesis caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage in a patient with a ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm: a case report

The authors report a patient with a ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm who presented with ipsilateral hemiparesis. A computed tomographic (CT) scan and cerebral angiograms suggested that the ipsilateral hemiparesis was most likely due to compression by hematoma of the secondary motor area in the island of Reil. Two other cases that demonstrated ipsilateral motor weakness after rupture of MCA aneurysms have been reported. We emphasize not only the importance of considering dysfunction of the secondary motor area in patients with hemiparesis, but also the difficulty in differentiating ipsilateral secondary motor area dysfunction from contralateral primary motor area dysfunction in certain cases without CT scanning and angiography.     

Cerebral infarction and fluid collection due to an enlarged dissecting aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery--case report

A 53-year-old man presented with cerebral infarction associated with a dissecting aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA), with enlargement and fluid collection. Anticoagulant therapy was performed as the first stage treatment for cerebral infarction. Serial magnetic resonance imaging showed that the dissecting aneurysm had enlarged and fluid collection adjacent to the aneurysm had developed since the first admission. Surgery was performed to ligate the MCA proximal to the aneurysm. Intraoperative findings showed the branch of the MCA was obstructed by intramural hemorrhage of the aneurysm dome. Histological examination showed direct obstruction of the MCA branch artery by intramural hemorrhage of aneurysm dome had caused the cerebral infarction and the fluid collection surrounding the aneurysm resulted from minor leakage or exudation of intramural hemorrhage to the outer surface of the dissecting aneurysm.