ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the existence and/or prevalence of clinical practice variation in management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and to determine the need for long-term follow-up. METHODS: A single-center study was carried out of patients with aSAH over a 5-year period divided into 2 halves (2.5 years each) before and after addition of a dually trained cerebrovascular neurosurgeon. In-hospital clinical practice, clinical outcome (mortality and discharge destination) and long-term outcome (modified Rankin Scale score and Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status [TICS]) were compared using descriptive summaries and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Among 251 patients admitted with aSAH, 115 (45.8%) were before the index event, whereas 136 (54.2%) were during the later period. The aneurysm-securing procedure changed from coil embolization to clip ligation (12/115 [10.4%] vs. 84/136 [61.8%]; P < 0.0001) during the latter years. Interventional treatment for cerebral vasospasm has decreased (58/115 [50.4%] vs. 49/136 [36.0%]; P = 0.0002). Patients surviving hospitalization had more clinic follow-up after discharge during the latter period (42/85 [49.4%] vs. 76/105 [72.4%]; P = 0.0012) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for delayed hydrocephalus (1/85 [1.2%] vs. 9/105 [8.6%]; P = 0.02). A subcohort of aSAH survivors (n = 46) had lower median TICS score during the earlier study period (31.5 [interquartile range, 22-36] vs. 33 [interquartile range, 27-38]; P = 0.038). Similarly, preictal smoking status and hyperlipidemia were associated with adverse TICS score in a multivariate model (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Postdischarge clinical follow-up has improved facilitating recognition and treatment of delayed hydrocephalus. Existence of cognitive deficits among survivors calls for establishment of multidisciplinary clinics for long-term management of aSAH.
Subject(s)
Disease Management , Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/therapy , Adult , Aged , Embolization, Therapeutic , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Hydrocephalus/etiology , Hydrocephalus/therapy , Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Needs Assessment , Postoperative Complications/therapy , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Smoking/epidemiology , Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/psychology , Survivors , Treatment Outcome , Vasospasm, Intracranial/etiology , Vasospasm, Intracranial/therapy , Ventriculoperitoneal ShuntABSTRACT
Topiramate is effective in migraine headache prophylaxis. Pulmonary symptoms are rarely described as adverse effects. We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with migraine headaches who developed chronic shortness of breath while taking topiramate. Our patient experienced hand paresthesiae at a dose of 25 mg daily, and exercise induced dyspnea at doses above 50 mg daily; these symptoms worsened with increasing topiramate doses. Physical exam and chest x-ray were normal. Blood gas revealed a metabolic acidosis. Symptoms resolved after discontinuation of topiramate. Topiramate induces a lowering of blood carbon dioxide, which is usually asymptomatic. This is due to inhibition of carbonic anhydrase at the proximal renal tubule resulting in impaired proximal bicarbonate reabsorption. The decrease in CO(2) blood level facilitates the occurrence of metabolic acidosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of topiramate-induced dyspnea in a patient with migraine headaches.
