Risk Factors for Formation of Multiple Intracranial Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: We report the correlation between known risk factors for cerebrovascular disease and formation of multiple intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and outcomes of 524 patients who had undergone aneurysmal operation at our hospital between January 1996 and May 2001. Of 524 patients who had undergone operations with intracranial aneurysm, 130 patients had multiple intracranial aneurysms. The authors examined the correlations between the risk factors(patient age, sex, menopausal state of female patients, hypertension, cigarette smoking) and the presence of multiple intracranial aneurysms by using chi-square test retrospectively. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was about 1 : 2.05(male : female=129 : 265) for patients with single intracranial aneurysm, and male to female was about 1 : 3.06(male : female=32 : 98) for patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms. Among 256 female patients with single intracranial aneurysm, 182 patients(68.9%) were postmenopausal, and, among 98 female patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms, 81 patients(82.6%) were postmenopausal. The mean age of the patients with single intracranial aneurysm was 54 years, and, with multiple intracranial aneurysms, the mean age was 57.8 years. The presence of hypertension was found in 149 patients(37.8%) with single intracranial aneurysm, and, in 55 patinets (42.3%) with multiple intracranial aneurysms. Cigarette smoking was found in 116 patients(29.4%) with single intracranial aneurysm and 47 patients(36.1%) with multiple intracranial aneurysms. CONCLUSION: There is a significant correlation between menopausal state of female patients and presence of multiple intracranial aneurysms. However, gender, hypertension and smoking are not related to multiple intracranial aneurysms.

Oculomotor Nerve Palsy in Internal Carotid-Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm

Internal carotid-posterior communicating artery aneurysms are frequently related to third nerve palsy which is reversible after the clipping of aneurysm. The authors had analyzed 61 cases in 52 patients who have posterior communicating artery aneurysm and evaluated the factors affecting the development of third nerve palsy and its recovery after clipping of the aneurysm. The results are followings 1) Oculomotor nerve palsy was noticed in 10 patients(16.4%) among 61 cases of posterior communicating artery aneurysm, of which 6 had complete and 4 had partial palsies. 2) Posteriolateral inferior direction of the aneurysm seemed to be closely related to the development of ophthalmoplegia. 3) Development of ophthalmoplegia was not related to the clinical status of the patient on admission, but to the amount of subarachnoid hemorrhage on initial CT scan and size of the aneurysm. 4) Preoperative degree of third nerve palsy and the timing of operation are not definitely related to the recovery of ophthalmoplegia. 5) The recovery of third nerve palsy are normalization of ptosis, normalization of EOM limitation and normalization of papillary change in order.

Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest for the Management of Complex Basilar tip Aneurysm with Moyamoya Disease

Giant and complex aneurysm of the posterior circulation can pose several technical challenges with high operative morbidity. Recent advances in cardiac surgery have raised interest in the technique of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest for the management of giant and complex intracranial aneurysms of posterior circulation. The criteria for selecting patients for this procedure can be based on a preoperative analysis of available studies that suggests high risk with standard intervention. Using the technique of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, we have successfully operated on a case of complex basilar tip aneurysm with MoyaMoya disease resulting in no significant neurological complications. We therefore suggest that patients with giant and complex intracranial aneurysms of posterior circulation might benefit from the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest technique.

A Case of Herpes Simplex Virus Induced Focal Brainstem Encephalitis: A Case Report

Focal brainstem encephalitis due to Herpes simplex virus if a very rare infectious disease, occurs with a frequent of 1-2 million population per year. A 3 years old girl is described with infection due to Herpes simplex virus causing brainstem encephalitis. The diagnosis was established by enzyme immunosorbent assays of the cerebrospinal fluid and serum which demonstrated antibody responsed to Herpes simplex virus. The clinicopathological features, radiological findings, laboratories and brainstem biopsies are discussed in the context of the literature.

Management for Undetermined Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

It is known that the prognosis of spontaneous SAH(subarachnoid hemorrhage) of undetermined cause is generally favorable. Yet, the natural history and pathogenesis of SAH of undetermined cause remain controversial and patients management is largely empirical. 42 cases of non-traumatic SAH of undetermined cause of a total of 415 cases of SAH treated during a 5-year period(1991-1996) were available for this study. What should be done when angiography is negative after SAH? This study was undertaken to present a more definitive management in preventing rebleeding after SAH of undetermined cause. This study show that explorative craniotomy for aneurysmal operation is warranted, despite negative cerebral panangiograms, if the patient manifests the classical signs and symptoms of SAH and definite subarachnoid blood in CT(computed tomogram) or direct lumbar puncture and any suspicious lesions in cerebral panangiography, particularly the AcoA(anterior communicating artery) region.