A Less Invasive Strategy for Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysms with Intracerebral Hematomas: Endovascular Coil Embolization Followed by Stereotactic Aspiration of Hematomas Using Urokinase

OBJECTIVE: Aneurysm clipping and simultaneous hematoma evacuation through open craniotomy is traditionally recommended for ruptured cerebral aneurysms accompanied by intracerebral or intrasylvian hemorrhages. We report our experience of adapting a less invasive treatment strategy in poor-grade patients with intracerebral or intrasylvian hemorrhages associated with ruptured cerebral aneurysms, where the associated ruptured cerebral aneurysms were managed by endovascular coil embolization, followed by stereotactic aspiration of hematomas (SRH) using urokinase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 112 patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. There were accompanying intracerebral or intrasylvian hemorrhages in 36 patients (32.1%). The most common site for these ruptured aneurysms was the middle cerebral artery (MCA) (n = 15; 41.6%). Endovascular coil embolization followed by SRH using urokinase was performed in 9 patients (25%). RESULTS: In these 9 patients, the most common site of aneurysms was the MCA (n = 3; 33.4%); the hematoma volume ranged from 19.24 to 61.68 mL. Four patients who were World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) grade-IV on admission, achieved favorable outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Score [GOS] 4 or 5) at 6-months postoperatively. In the five patients who were WFNS grade-V on admission, one achieved a favorable outcome, whereas 4 achieved GOS scores of 2 or 3, 6-months postoperatively. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: If immediate hematoma evacuation is not mandated by clinical or radiological signs of brain herniation, a less invasive strategy, such as endovascular coil embolization followed by SRH using urokinase, may be a good alternative in poor-grade patients with intracerebral or intrasylvian hemorrhages associated with ruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Vasoespasmo cerebral y déficit isquémico tardío en la hemorragia subaracnoídea aneurismática: guías para su manejo clínico / Cerebral vasospasm and delayed ischemic deficit in the aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: guidelines to its clinical management

La presente revisión del tema Vasoespasmo y Déficit Isquémico Cerebral tardío (DIT) en la Hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática tiene como objetivo actualizar su manejo, basado en las hipótesis mas aceptadas que se han logrado para explicar su patogénesis. Se efectúa una introducción con conceptos generales, se revisan las bases patogénicas del Vasoespasmo y se plantea su manejo, tomando en cuenta su diagnóstico, monitorización, profilaxis y manejo avanzado de acuerdo a las últimas Guías de Manejo Clínico y según medicina basada en las evidencias.

The objective of the present review on cerebral vasospasm and cerebral delayed isquemic deficit due to subarachnoid haemorrhage secondary to ruptured cerebral aneurysm, is to update their management, based on the most accepted pathophysiological hypotesis explaining their pathogenetic mechanisms. An introduction is performed presenting general concepts, review of the most recent research works explaining their pathogenesis, and the management is stated touching diagnosis, monitoring, prophylaxis, and advanced management according with the last clinical guidelines for his management using medicine based on evidences.

Momento quirúrgico apoyado con doppler transcraneal en pacientes con hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática / Surgical timing supported by transcranial doppler in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage from aneurisms rupture

Introducción: La cirugía de la hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática (HSA) realizada en las primeras 72 horas es beneficiosa. Cuando los casos arriban transcurrido este período el mejor momento quirúrgico es controversial. Objetivo. Evaluar la influencia sobre los resultados de la cirugía en la HSA de un protocolo para decidir el momento quirúrgico apoyado en el monitoreo con Doppler transcraneal (DTC). Material y Método: Se comparan los resultados quirúrgicos al alta y al año de seguimiento según la escala de Glasgow para resultados (EGR), en una serie de 233 casos con HSA rotos operados Enero de 2006 - Diciembre de 2010 y seguidos hasta Enero de 2012, en los que la cirugía en el período intermedio se decidió teniendo en cuenta las velocidades de flujo de los segmentos proximales del polígono de Willis registradas por DTC, con los de un grupo control histórico operado Diciembre de 1983 - Diciembre de 2005 sin la ayuda de dicho monitoreo. Resultados: La mortalidad al alta y al año en la serie de estudio fue de 4,3 y 4,5 por ciento y en el grupo control 7 y 7,7 por ciento respectivamente. Se observaron resultados satisfactorios (grados 4 y 5 en EGR) en el 93,1 al alta y 92,8 por ciento al año en la serie de estudio. Entre los controles históricos estos índices fueron 85,6 y 88,1 por ciento respectivamente (p = 0,004 y p = 0,036). Conclusiones: Los resultados del tratamiento microquirúrgico de la HSA se benefician con la atención protocolizada y la consideración de los resultados del DTC para seleccionar el momento quirúrgico.

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) surgery, practiced in the first 72 hours is beneficial. The optimal surgical timing, for microsurgical clipping of ruptured intracranial aneurysms, remains controversial when patients arrive between 4 and 14 days. Some surgeons favor a prompt operation regardless the timing. Other ones prefer to wait 2 weeks. Most patients in developing countries are taken to neurosurgical attention late, which not permit an early surgery. Object. To evaluate the surgical outcome in a series of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) managed according to a dynamic protocol. Methods: The authors evaluated surgical outcome by means of Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score in a series of 233 patients with SAH who received neurosurgical clipping in the years 2006-2010 and were followed until January 2012, whose surgical timing was decided according to transcranial Doppler (TD) monitoring. These outcomes were compared with results in a series of 445 historic controls operated 1983-2005. Results: Series mortality at the discharge and at the year were 4.3 and 4.5 percent, and 7 and 7.7 percent in the control group respectively. Series show good outcomes (grade 4 and grade 5 in GOS score) in 93.1 at the discharge and 92.8 percent at the year. Among the historic controls cases with good outcome were 85.6 and 88.1 percent respectively (p = 0.004 y p = 0.036). Conclusions: Surgical outcomes of SAH can be favored by the impact of protocolized attention and TD to decide the best surgical timing in SAH.

A Clinical Analysis of Twelve Cases of Ruptured Cerebral De Novo Aneurysms

Formation of cerebral de novo aneurysms (CDNA) is rare, and the pathogenesis remains obscure. In this study, we investigated the factors that contribute to the formation of CDNA and suggest guidelines for following patients treated for cerebral aneurysms. We retrospectively reviewed 2,887 patients treated for intracranial aneurysm at our institute from January of 1976 to December of 2005. Of those patients, 12 were readmitted due to recurrent rupture of CDNA, which was demonstrated by cerebral angiography. We assessed clinical characteristics, such as gender, size and site of rupture, past history, and the time to CDNA rupture. Of the 12 patients, 11 were female and 1 was male, with a mean age at rupture of the first aneurysm of 44.7 years (range: 30-69 years). The mean time between the first episode of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the second was 8.9 years (range: 1.0-16.7 years). The most common site of ruptured CDNA was the internal carotid artery (5 patients, 41.7%), followed by basilar artery bifurcation (3 patients, 25.0%). In the remaining 4 patients, rupture occurred in the anterior communicating, middle cerebral, anterior cerebral (A1), or posterior cerebral (P1) arteries. In 5 cases (41.7%), the CDNA occurred contralateral to the initial aneurysm. Eleven patients (91.7%) had a past history of arterial hypertension. There was no history of habitual smoking or alcohol abuse in any of the patients. Eight patients underwent clipping for CDNA and three patients were treated with coiling. One patient who had multiple aneurysms was treated with clipping following intra-aneurysmal coiling. Assessment according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) of the patients after the treatment was good in 10 cases (83.3%) and fair in 2 cases (16.7%). Although formation of CDNA after successful treatment of initial aneurysm is rare, several factors may contribute to recurrence. In our study, female patients with a history of arterial hypertension were at higher risk for ruptured CDNA. We recommend follow-up imaging studies every five years after treatment of the initial aneurysm, especially in women and those with a history of arterial hypertension.

Role of Transcranial Doppler Study in the Patients with Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm

The authors performed prospectively the transcranial Doppler monitoring of middle cerebral arteries in 37 patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysm. The entry criteria for the study were confined to the patients who had clinical Grades of 1, 2, or 3, and were operated within 4 days after bleeding. There were several sonographic risk factors of developing delayed ischemic deficits; 1) An early steep increase of flow velocity exceeding 120 cm/sec. 2) An increase of maximum flow velocity more than 140 cm/sec. 3) The flow velocity increasing simultaneously with the onset of delayed ischemic deficit in which case preventive treatment was impossible. 4) Prolonged elevation of flow velocity for more than 7 days despite of aggressive treatment. It seemed to be mandatory to start preventive and aggressive treatment for the asymptomatic patients who showed higher flow velocity than 140 cm/sec. Transcranial Doppler sonography has another potential on deciding the timing of surgery.

Serum Potassium Change after Administration of Succinylcholine in Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm Patients / 대한마취과학회지

Succinylcholine induced hyperkalemia has been reported in many neurologic disorders including subarachnoid hemorrhage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate suceinylcholine induced-hyperkalemia in twenty ruptured cerebral aneuryam patients undergoing general anesthesia for repair of the cerebral aneurysm. Serum potassium levels were measured after induction of anesthesia, but before succinylcholine, and 1, 5 and 10 min after administration of succinylcholine. Serum potassium levels were continuously increased until 10 min after euccinylcholine administration. The increments of serum potassium above 1.0mEq/L were observed in 5 of 9 patients with loss of consciousnesa A relationship between the loss of consciousness and hyperkalemic response after succinylcholine was suggested.

Transcranial Doppler Study in the Patients with Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm: Preliminary Report

The authors performed prospectively the transcranial Doppler monitoring of bilateral anterior and middle cerebral arteries in 15 patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysm. The entry criteria for the study were confined to the patients who were admitted within 3 days after bleeding and had clinical grades of I, II, or III. The mean frequency shifts of bilateral anterior and middle cerebral arteries were increased immediately after ictus and showed continous further elevation between the 3rd and 8th rupture days. After that, they normalized slowly. The increase of frequency shift preceded clinical ischemic symptoms and an early steep increase of frequency shift was correlated to a high chance for suffering delayed ischemic deficits. The thick clots in subarachnoid cisterns shown on CT scans taken within the third rupture day were correlated well to the severe increase of frequency shifts. The aggressive treatment was done on asymptomatic patients who showed relatively rapid increase of frequency shifts, and they had shown no or trasient mild ischemic symptoms.

The Value of Fundoscopic Examination for Retinal Artery Spasm in the Correlation of Cerebral Vasospasm

During cerebral vasospasm (CVS) due to ruptured aneurysm the retinal arteries were photographed and evaluated with angiographic studies at various stages to study any correlation between them. Among 60 cases with angiographic CVS, ophthalmoscopic retinal artery spasm (RAS) was detected in 29 cases. Photographic demonstration of the RAS was possible in 7 cases. In general, in a series of cases, the degree of RAS seems to correspond to the severity of CVS.