The Clinical Significance of Brain Computed Tomography at Three Days after Cerebral Aneurysm Surgery

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Despite recent technical advances in neurological surgery and medical management, patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) who underwent surgery have been still at high risk of morbidity and mortality. For early prediction of postoperative outcome and proper management, we analyzed brain computed tomography(CT) findings taken at three days after cerebral aneurysm surgery. METHODS: Focusing on the relationship between the surgical outcomes and postoperative brain CT findings, the authors studied 153 consecutive patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who had been treated surgically between January 1993 and December 1996. RESULTS: Brain CT findings were classified into following categories; non-specific(49 cases, 32.0%), hematoma at operation site(14 cases, 9.2%), ventricular dilatation(10 cases, 6.5%), subdural hygroma(27 cases, 17.6%), low density (28 cases, 18.3%), hemorrhage at remote site(0 cases, 0%) and combined lesions(25 cases, 16.3%). The poor surgical outcomes were 6% in normal CT finding group and 36% in abnormal CT finding group(p=0. 00011, Chi-square test). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that postoperative third day brain CT findings could be used for an early predictor of outcomes and proper active managements could improve the poor outcome.