Mortality After Microsurgical Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in the Modern Era.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of mortality after treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) has been described historically. However, many advances in microsurgical treatment have since emerged, and most available data are outdated. We analyzed the incidence of mortality after microsurgical treatment of patients with UIAs treated in the past decade. METHODS: The medical records of all patients with UIAs who underwent elective treatment at our large quaternary center from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2020, were reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed mortality at discharge and 1-year follow-up as the primary outcome using univariate to multivariable progression with P < 0.20 inclusion. RESULTS: During the 7-year study period, 488 patients (mean [SD] age = 58 [12] years) had UIAs treated microsurgically. Of these patients, 61 (12.5%) had a prior subarachnoid hemorrhage. One patient (0.2%) with a dolichoectatic vertebrobasilar aneurysm died while hospitalized, and 7 other patients (8 total; 1.6%) were determined to have died at 1-year follow-up (1 trauma, 2 myocardial infarction, 2 cerebrovascular accident, 1 pulmonary embolism, and 1 subdural hematoma complicated by abscess). On univariate analysis, significant risk factors for mortality at follow-up included diabetes mellitus, preoperative anticoagulant or antiplatelet use, aneurysm calcification, nonsaccular aneurysm, and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists grades (all P < 0.03). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, only nonsaccular aneurysms and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists grades were predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A low mortality rate is associated with recent microsurgical treatment of UIAs. However, nonsaccular aneurysms and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists grades appear to be predictors of mortality.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers for Diagnosis and the Prognostication of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review.

Despite the high incidence and burden of stroke, biological biomarkers are not used routinely in clinical practice to diagnose, determine progression, or prognosticate outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Because of its direct interface with neural tissue, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a potentially valuable source for biomarker development. This systematic review was conducted using three databases. All trials investigating clinical and preclinical models for CSF biomarkers for AIS diagnosis, prognostication, and severity grading were included, yielding 22 human trials and five animal studies for analysis. In total, 21 biomarkers and other multiomic proteomic markers were identified. S100B, inflammatory markers (including tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 6), and free fatty acids were the most frequently studied biomarkers. The review showed that CSF is an effective medium for biomarker acquisition for AIS. Although CSF is not routinely clinically obtained, a potential benefit of CSF studies is identifying valuable biomarkers from the pathophysiologic microenvironment that ultimately inform optimization of targeted low-abundance assays from peripheral biofluid samples (e.g., plasma). Several important catabolic and anabolic markers can serve as effective measures of diagnosis, etiology identification, prognostication, and severity grading. Trials with large cohorts studying the efficacy of biomarkers in altering clinical management are still needed.

A comprehensive assessment of self-reported symptoms among patients harboring an unruptured intracranial aneurysm.

Background: Approximately 3.2%-6% of the general population harbor an unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA). Ruptured aneurysms represent a significant healthcare burden, and preventing rupture relies on early detection and treatment. Most patients with UIAs are asymptomatic, and many of the symptoms associated with UIAs are nonspecific, which makes diagnosis challenging. This study explored symptoms associated with UIAs, the rate of resolution of such symptoms after microsurgical treatment, and the likely pathophysiology. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with UIAs who underwent microsurgical treatment from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2020, at a single quaternary center were identified. Analyses included the prevalence of nonspecific symptoms upon clinical presentation and postoperative follow-up; comparisons of symptomatology by aneurysmal location; and comparisons of patient demographics, aneurysmal characteristics, and poor neurologic outcome at postoperative follow-up stratified by symptomatic versus asymptomatic presentation. Results: The analysis included 454 patients; 350 (77%) were symptomatic. The most common presenting symptom among all 454 patients was headache (n = 211 [46%]), followed by vertigo (n = 94 [21%]), cognitive disturbance (n = 68[15%]), and visual disturbance (n = 64 [14%]). Among 328 patients assessed for postoperative symptoms, 258 (79%) experienced symptom resolution or improvement. Conclusion: This cohort demonstrates that the clinical presentation of patients with UIAs can be associated with vague and nonspecific symptoms. Early detection is crucial to prevent aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. It is imperative that physicians not rule out aneurysms in the setting of nonspecific neurologic symptoms.