The Outcome of Urgent Surgery for Hunt-Hess Grade IV Patients with Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysm

OBJECTIVE: About 40% of patients who admit to the hospital after subarachnoid hemorrhage are poor clinical grade(Hunt-Hess grade IV, V). The majority of these patients have been excluded from early, aggressive treatment. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the outcome of urgent surgery for Hunt-Hess grade IV aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed hospital records and radiographic studies of 36 patients who were Hunt-Hess grade IV among 201 cases with ruptured intracranial aneurysm admitted between Sep. 1995 and Dec. 2000. Operated patients were treated with urgent angiography and surgery within 24 hours of presentation, except six patients, and medical records of these patients were reviewed for the clinical course and Glasgow outcome scale(GOS). RESULTS: Overall management results of the 36 patients were good recovery in 13(36.1%), moderate disability in 12 (33.3%), severe disability in 1(2.8%), vegetative state in 1(2.8%) and 9(25.0%) of surgically treated patients had died. CONCLUSION: Although with limited number of patients, we conclude that urgent surgery for Hunt-Hess grade IV patients results in a better neurologic outcome and urgent surgery combined with aggressive postoperative management can minimize mortality.

Contributing Factors for Favorable Outcome in Spite of Initially Poor Graded Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients(Hunt-Hess grade IV, V)

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage carries a high rate of morbidity and mortality despite recent advance in the care of such patients. This is especially true in patients in poorer neurological condition(Hunt-Hess grade IV, V) after initial hemorrhage. Many factors are known to contribute to this poor outcome, but other factors might be contribute to the favorable outcome. This study underwent to examine in a prospective fashion to evaluate the influence of different clinical, radiological, and intra-operative factors upon eventual outcome to aid in determining the rationale for an aggressive management on individual cases. Total of 494 cases of SAH were surgically treated from Jan. 1984 to Sep. 1996. Among them, 92 cases(18.6%) were classified as Hunt-Hess grade IV, V. Favorable outcome was noted in 59 cases(64.1%), and poor outcome in 33 cases(35.9%). Statistically significant contributing factors for favorable outcome aare systolicBP24hr), and short operation time(<6hr).