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Background: This study assessed neurological outcomes and variables associated with favorable outcomes in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with low functional status (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score ≤8) on postbleed day 7 (PBD7)., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of all patients in the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial (January 1, 2014-July 31, 2019) treated for a ruptured aneurysm and who had a GCS score ≤8 on PBD7. The primary outcome was a favorable neurological outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2) at last follow-up., Results: Of 312 patients, 63 had low GCS scores at PBD7. These patients had a significantly greater proportion of poor Hunt and Hess scale grades (≥4) (44/63 [70%] vs. 49/249 [19.7%], P < 0.001) and poor Fisher grades (grade = 4) (58/63 [92%] vs. 174/249 [69.9%], P < 0.001) compared to patients who did not have low GCS scores on PBD7, but no differences were found in age, sex, anterior location, aneurysm size, or type of treatment. Of the 63 patients, 7 (11%) experienced a favorable neurological outcome. On univariate analysis, none of the physical examination reflexes predicted a favorable neurological outcome. The middle cerebral artery aneurysm territory was the only significant predictor of a favorable neurological outcome by multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 10.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-100], P = 0.04)., Conclusions: This study yielded no significant physical examination findings that predict a favorable outcome in patients with a GCS score ≤8 on PBD7. This finding may inform the decision of whether to prolong hospital management or arrange for end-of-life care., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Disorders of consciousness impair early recovery after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Modafinil, a wakefulness-promoting agent, is efficacious for treating fatigue in stroke survivors, but data pertaining to its use in the acute setting are scarce. This study sought to assess the effects of modafinil use on mental status after aSAH., Methods: Modafinil timing and dosage, neurological examination, intubation status, and physical and occupational therapy participation were documented. Repeated-measures paired tests were used for a before-after analysis of modafinil recipients. Propensity score matching (1:1 nearest neighbor) for modafinil and no-modafinil cohorts was used to compare outcomes., Results: Modafinil (100-200 mg/day) was administered to 21% (88/422) of aSAH patients for a median (IQR) duration of 10.5 (4-16) days and initiated 14 (7-17) days after aSAH. Improvement in mentation (alertness, orientation, or Glasgow Coma Scale score) was documented in 87.5% (77/88) of modafinil recipients within 72 hours and 86.4% (76/88) at discharge. Of 37 intubated patients, 10 (27%) were extubated within 72 hours after modafinil initiation. Physical and occupational therapy teams noted increased alertness or participation in 47 of 56 modafinil patients (83.9%). After propensity score matching for baseline covariates, the modafinil cohort had a greater mean (SD) change in Glasgow Coma Scale score than the no-modafinil cohort at discharge (2.2 [4.0] vs. -0.2 [6.32], P = 0.003)., Conclusions: A temporal relationship with improvement in mental status was noted for most patients administered modafinil after aSAH. These findings, a favorable adverse-effect profile, and implications for goals-of-care decisions favor a low threshold for modafinil initiation in aSAH patients in the acute-care setting., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Flow-diverting devices (FDDs), such as the Pipeline Embolization Device, have been gaining traction for treating challenging posterior circulation aneurysms. Few previous studies have focused on using FDDs to treat aneurysms of the basilar quadrifurcation., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the use of FDDs to treat patients with basilar quadrifurcation aneurysms. Patients were assessed for aneurysm type, previous aneurysm treatment, technical success, periprocedural complications, and long-term aneurysm occlusion., Results: 34 patients were assessed; aneurysms of the basilar apex (n=23) or superior cerebellar artery (SCA) (n=7), or both (n=1), and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) (n=3). The mean (SD) largest aneurysm dimension was 8.7 (6.1) mm (range 1.9-30.8 mm). 14 aneurysms were previously surgically clipped or endovascularly coiled. All aneurysms had a saccular morphology. Complete or near-complete occlusion was achieved in 30 of 34 patients (88%) at final angiographic follow-up, a mean (SD) of 6.6 (5.4) months (range 0-19 months) postoperatively. No patient experienced postoperative symptomatic occlusions of the SCA or PCA; 4 patients developed asymptomatic posterior communicating artery occlusions; 28 patients (82%) experienced no complications; whereas 3 (9%) experienced major complications and 3 (9%) experienced minor complications; and 1 patient died as a result of subarachnoid hemorrhage., Conclusion: Flow diversion may be a safe and effective option to treat basilar quadrifurcation aneurysms. Previously treated basilar quadrifurcation aneurysms with recurrence or residual lesion may benefit from additional treatment with an FDD. Further prospective studies should be directed toward validating these findings., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Dr Ducruet is a consultant for Penumbra, Medtronic, Stryker, Cerenovus, and Koswire. Drs Ducruet and Albuquerque serve on the editorial board of the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. Content included in this article was presented as a digital poster at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, April 29–May 1, 2022, in Philadelphia, PA., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Controversy remains regarding the appropriate screening for intracranial aneurysms or for the treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) for patients without known high-risk factors for rupture. This study aimed to assess how sex affects both aSAH presentation and outcomes for aSAH treatment., Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all patients treated at a single institution for an aSAH during a 12-year period (August 1, 2007-July 31, 2019). An analysis of women with and without high-risk factors was performed, including a propensity adjustment for a poor neurologic outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score > 2) at follow-up., Results: Data from 1014 patients were analyzed (69% [n = 703] women). Women were significantly older than men (mean ± SD, 56.6 ± 14.1 years vs 53.4 ± 14.2 years, p < 0.001). A significantly lower percentage of women than men had a history of tobacco use (36.6% [n = 257] vs 46% [n = 143], p = 0.005). A significantly higher percentage of women than men had no high-risk factors for aSAH (10% [n = 70] vs 5% [n = 16], p = 0.01). The percentage of women with an mRS score > 2 at the last follow-up was significantly lower among those without high-risk factors (34%, 24/70) versus those with high-risk factors (53%, 334/633) (p = 0.004). Subsequent propensity-adjusted analysis (adjusted for age, Hunt and Hess grade, and Fisher grade) found no statistically significant difference in the odds of a poor outcome for women with or without high-risk factors for aSAH (OR = 0.7, 95% CI = 0.4-1.2, p = 0.18)., Conclusions: A higher percentage of women versus men with aSAH had no known high-risk factors for rupture, supporting more aggressive screening and management of women with unruptured aneurysms., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: The PHASES (Population, Hypertension, Age, Size, Earlier subarachnoid hemorrhage, Site) score was developed to facilitate risk stratification for management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). This study aimed to identify the optimal PHASES score cutoff for predicting neurologic outcomes in patients with surgically treated aneurysms., Methods: All patients who underwent microneurosurgical treatment for UIA at a large quaternary center from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria included a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of ≤2 at admission. The primary outcome was 1-year mRS score, with a "poor" neurologic outcome defined as an mRS score >2., Results: In total, 375 patients were included in the analysis. The mean (SD) PHASES score for the entire study population was 4.47 (2.67). Of 375 patients, 116 (31%) had a PHASES score ≥6, which was found to maximize prediction of poor neurologic outcome. Patients with PHASES scores ≥6 had significantly higher rates of poor neurologic outcome than patients with PHASES scores <6 at discharge (58 [50%] vs. 90 [35%], P = 0.005) and follow-up (20 [17%] vs. 18 [6.9%], P = 0.002). After adjusting for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, nonsaccular aneurysm, and aneurysm size, PHASES score ≥6 remained a significant predictor of poor neurologic outcome at follow-up (odds ratio, 2.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-5.36, P = 0.003)., Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, a PHASES score ≥6 was associated with significantly greater proportions of poor outcome, suggesting that awareness of this threshold in PHASES scoring could be useful in risk stratification and UIA management., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) contributes significant morbidity and mortality after brain aneurysm rupture. However, the association between vascular territory of vasospasm and clinical outcome has not been studied. We present a hypothesis-generating study to determine whether the location of vasospasm within the intracranial circulation is associated with functional outcome after SAH., Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospective, intention-to-treat trial for aneurysmal SAH was performed to supplement trial outcomes with in-hospital angiographic imaging and treatment variables regarding vasospasm. The location of vasospasm and the position on the vessel (distal vs proximal) were evaluated. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) outcomes were assessed at discharge and 6 months, and predictive models were constructed., Results: A total of 406 patients were included, 341 with follow-up data at 6 months. At discharge, left-sided vasospasm was associated with poor outcome (odds ratio (OR), 2.37; 95% CI, 1.25 to 4.66; P=0.01). At 6 months, anterior cerebral artery (ACA) vasospasm (OR, 3.87; 95% CI, 1.29 to 11.88; P=0.02) and basilar artery (BA) vasospasm (OR, 6.22; 95% CI, 1.54 to 27.11; P=0.01) were associated with poor outcome after adjustment. A model predicting 6-month mRS score and incorporating vasospasm variables achieved an area under the curve of 0.85 and a net improvement in reclassification of 13.2% (P<0.01) compared with a previously validated predictive model for aneurysmal SAH., Conclusions: In aneurysmal SAH, left-sided vasospasm is associated with worse discharge functional status. At 6 months, both ACA and BA vasospasm are associated with unfavorable functional status., Competing Interests: Competing interests: AFD is a consultant for Medtronic (Dublin, Ireland), Penumbra (Alameda, CA), Cerenovus (Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ), Stryker (Kalamazoo, MI), Koswire (Flowery Branch, GA), and Oculus (Menlo Park, CA). AFD also has an ownership interest in Aneuvas Technologies, Inc. (Flagstaff, AZ). FCA and AFD are on the editorial board of Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with increased blood-brain barrier permeability, disrupted tight junctions, and increased cerebral edema. Sulfonylureas are associated with reduced tight-junction disturbance and edema and improved functional outcome in aSAH animal models, but human data are scant. We analyzed neurological outcomes in aSAH patients prescribed sulfonylureas for diabetes mellitus., Methods: Patients treated for aSAH at a single institution (August 1, 2007-July 31, 2019) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with diabetes were grouped by presence or absence of sulfonylurea therapy at hospital admission. The primary outcome was favorable neurologic status at last follow-up (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2). Variables with an unadjusted P-value of <0.20 were included in a propensity-adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of favorable outcomes., Results: Of 1013 aSAH patients analyzed, 129 (13%) had diabetes at admission, and 16 of these (12%) were receiving sulfonylureas. Fewer diabetic than nondiabetic patients had favorable outcomes (40% [52/129] vs. 51% [453/884], P = 0.03). Among diabetic patients, sulfonylurea use (OR 3.90, 95% CI 1.05-15.9, P = 0.046), Charlson Comorbidity Index <4 (OR 3.66, 95% CI 1.24-12.1, P = 0.02), and absence of delayed cerebral infarction (OR 4.09, 95% CI 1.20-15.5, P = 0.03) were associated with favorable outcomes in the multivariable analysis., Conclusions: Diabetes was strongly associated with unfavorable neurologic outcomes. An unfavorable outcome in this cohort was mitigated by sulfonylureas, supporting some preclinical evidence of a possible neuroprotective role for these medications in aSAH. These results warrant further study on dose, timing, and duration of administration in humans., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Withholding prophylactic anticoagulation from patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) before external ventricular drain (EVD) removal or replacement remains controversial. This study analyzed whether prophylactic anticoagulation was associated with hemorrhagic complications related to EVD removal., Method: All aSAH patients treated from January 1, 2014, to July 31, 2019, with an EVD placed were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were compared based on the number of prophylactic anticoagulant doses withheld for EVD removal (> 1 vs. ≤ 1). The primary outcome analyzed was deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) after EVD removal. A propensity-adjusted logistic-regression analysis was performed for confounding variables., Results: A total of 271 patients were analyzed. For EVD removal, > 1 dose was withheld from 116 (42.8%) patients. Six (2.2%) patients had a hemorrhage associated with EVD removal, and 17 (6.3%) patients had a DVT or PE. No significant difference in EVD-related hemorrhage after EVD removal was found between patients with  > 1 versus ≤ 1 dose of anticoagulant withheld (4 of 116 [3.5%] vs. 2 of 155 [1.3%]; p = 0.41) or between those with no doses withheld compared to ≥ 1 dose withheld (1 of 100 [1.0%] vs. 5 of 171 [2.9%]; p = 0.32). After adjustment, withholding > 1 dose of anticoagulant versus ≤ 1 dose was associated with the occurrence of DVT or PE (OR 4.8; 95% CI, 1.5-15.7; p = 0.009)., Conclusions: In aSAH patients with EVDs, withholding > 1 dose of prophylactic anticoagulant for EVD removal was associated with an increased risk of DVT or PE and no reduction in catheter removal-associated hemorrhage., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Sparse data exist on socioeconomic disparities among patients treated for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The authors analyzed factors possibly influencing patient outcomes, including having a primary care physician (PCP) at admission, family/caregiver support, a foreign language barrier, primary payer status, and race., Methods: Socioeconomic data were abstracted for patients treated endovascularly or microsurgically for aSAH at a single center (January 1, 2014-July 31, 2019). Binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of an unfavorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score >2) and for predictive modeling., Results: Among 422 patients, the median (interquartile range) follow-up was 2 (1-23) months. Lack of caregiver support was the only socioeconomic factor associated with an unfavorable outcome at discharge. Independent predictors of mRS score >2 at last follow-up included baseline markers of disease severity (P ≤ 0.03), nonwhite race (OR, 1.69; P = 0.047), lack of caregiver support (OR, 5.55; P = 0.007), and lack of a PCP (OR, 1.96; P = 0.007). Adjusting for follow-up mediated the effects of race and PCP, although caregiver support remained significant and PCP was associated with a lower mortality risk independent of follow-up (OR, 0.51; P = 0.047). Predischarge socioeconomic factors, alongside disease severity, predicted a follow-up mRS score >2 with excellent discrimination (area under the receiver operating curve, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77-0.86)., Conclusions: At a large, urban, comprehensive stroke center, patients with PCPs, caregiver support, and white race had significantly better long-term outcomes after aSAH. These results reflect disparities in access to healthcare after aSAH for vulnerable populations with extensive lifetime needs., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Optimal definitive treatment timing for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains controversial. We compared outcomes for aSAH patients with ultra-early treatment versus later treatment at a single large center., Method: Patients who received definitive open surgical or endovascular treatment for aSAH between January 1, 2014, and July 31, 2019, were included. Ultra-early treatment was defined as occurring within 24 h from aneurysm rupture. The primary outcome was poor neurologic outcome (modified Rankin Scale score > 2). Propensity adjustment was performed for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Hunt and Hess grade, Fisher grade, aneurysm treatment type, aneurysm type, size, and anterior location., Results: Of the 1013 patients (mean [SD] age, 56 [14] years; 702 [69%] women, 311 [31%] men) included, 94 (9%) had ultra-early treatment. Compared with the non-ultra-early cohort, the ultra-early treatment cohort had a significantly lower percentage of saccular aneurysms (53 of 94 [56%] vs 746 of 919 [81%], P <0 .001), greater frequency of open surgical treatment (72 of 94 [77%] vs 523 of 919 [57%], P <0 .001), and greater percentage of men (38 of 94 [40%] vs 273 of 919 [30%], P = .04). After adjustment, ultra-early treatment was not associated with neurologic outcome in those with at least 180-day follow-up (OR = 0.86), the occurrence of delayed cerebral ischemia (OR = 0.87), or length of stay (exp(β), 0.13) (P ≥ 0.60)., Conclusions: In a large, single-center cohort of aSAH patients, ultra-early treatment was not associated with better neurologic outcome, fewer cases of delayed cerebral ischemia, or shorter length of stay., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: The incidence and risk factors for chronic depression after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are described., Methods: Patients with aSAH treated at a single institution (January 1, 2003-December 31, 2019) and a modified Rankin Scale score ≤3 at follow-up who were evaluated for chronic depression were analyzed. Chronic depression was defined using a depression screening questionnaire as ≥5 positive answers for symptoms lasting >2 weeks. A predictive model was designed for the primary outcome of depression., Results: Among 1419 patients with aSAH, 460 patients were analyzed; 130 (28%) had major depressive disorder. Mean follow-up was >6 years. Higher depression rates were associated with tobacco smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 2.64, P < 0.001), illicit drug use (OR = 2.35, P = 0.007), alcohol use disorder (1.92, P = 0.04), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR=2.68, P = 0.03), and vasospasm requiring angioplasty (OR=2.09, P = 0.048). The predictive model included tobacco smoking, illicit drug use, liver disease, COPD, diabetes, nonsaccular aneurysm type, anterior communicating artery or anterior cerebral artery aneurysm location, refractory spasm requiring angioplasty, and a modified Rankin Scale score at discharge of >1 (P ≤ 0.03). The model performed with appropriate goodness of fit and an area under the receiver operator curve of 0.70 for depression. Individual independent predictors of depression were tobacco smoking, COPD, diabetes, and nonsaccular aneurysm., Conclusions: A substantial percentage of patients had symptoms of depression on follow-up. The proposed predictive model for depression may be a useful clinical tool to identify patients at high risk for developing depression who warrant early screening and evaluation., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) located at craniocervical junction are extremely rare (1%-2% of intracranial/spinal dAVFs). Their angio-architectural complexity renders endovascular embolization to be challenging given multiple small feeders with risk of embolysate reflux into vertebral artery and limited transvenous access. The available literature discussing microsurgery for these lesions is limited to few case reports., Objective: To report a multicenter experience assessing microsurgery safety/efficacy., Methods: Prospectively maintained registries at 13 North American centers were queried to identify craniocervical junction dAVFs treated with microsurgery (2006-2021)., Results: Thirty-eight patients (median age 59.5 years, 44.7% female patients) were included. The most common presentation was subarachnoid/intracranial hemorrhage (47.4%) and myelopathy (36.8%) (92.1% of lesions Cognard type III-V). Direct meningeal branches from V3/4 vertebral artery segments supplied 84.2% of lesions. All lesions failed (n = 5, 13.2%) or were deemed inaccessible/unsafe to endovascular treatment. Far lateral craniotomy was the most used approach (94.7%). Intraoperative angiogram was performed in 39.5% of the cases, with angiographic cure in 94.7% of cases (median imaging follow-up of 9.2 months) and retreatment rate of 5.3%. Favorable last follow-up modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 2 was recorded in 81.6% of the patients with procedural complications of 2.6%., Conclusion: Craniocervical dAVFs represent rare entity of lesions presenting most commonly with hemorrhage or myelopathy because of venous congestion. Microsurgery using a far lateral approach provides robust exposure and visualization for these lesions and allows obliteration of the arterialized draining vein intradurally as close as possible to the fistula point. This approach was associated with a high rate of angiographic cure and favorable clinical outcomes., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2022. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The "weekend effect" is the negative effect on disease course and treatment resulting from being admitted to the hospital during a weekend. Whether the weekend effect is associated with worse outcomes for patients treated for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is unknown. We assessed neurologic outcomes of patients with aSAH admitted during the weekend versus during the week., Methods: A retrospective database was reviewed to identify all patients with aSAH who received open or endovascular treatment from August 1, 2007, to July 31, 2019, at a quaternary center. The primary outcome was a poor neurologic outcome (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Propensity adjustment included age, sex, treatment type, Hunt and Hess grade, and Charlson Comorbidity Index., Results: A total of 1014 patients (women, 703 [69.3%]; men, 311 [30.7%]; mean age, 56 [standard deviation, 14]) met inclusion criteria; 726 (71.6%) had weekday admissions, and 288 (28.4%) had weekend admissions. There was no significant difference between patients with a weekday versus a weekend admission in mean (standard deviation) time to treatment (0.85 [1.29] vs. 0.93 [1.30] days, P = 0.10) or length of stay (19 [9] vs. 19 [9] days, P = 0.04). Total cost and rates of delayed cerebral ischemia and vasospasm were similar between the admission groups, both overall and within the open and endovascular treatment cohorts. After propensity adjustment, weekend admission was not a significant predictor of a modified Rankin Scale score greater than 2 (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]; 1.12 [0.85-1.49]; P = 0.4)., Conclusion: No difference in neurologic outcomes was associated with weekend admission among this cohort of patients with aSAH., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The additional hospital costs associated with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) have not been well investigated in prior literature. In this study, the total hospital cost of DCI in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemmorhage (aSAH) patients treated at a single quaternary center was analyzed., Methods: All patients in the Post-Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial treated for an aSAH between January 1, 2014, and July 31, 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. DCI was defined as cerebral infarction identified on computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or autopsy after exclusion of procedure-related infarctions. The primary outcome was the difference in total cost (including hospital, discharge facility, and all follow-up) using a propensity-adjusted analysis. Propensity score covariate-adjusted linear regression analysis included age, sex, open versus endovascular treatment, Hunt and Hess score, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score., Results: Of the 391 patients included, 144 (37%) had DCI. Patients with DCI had a significantly greater cost compared to patients without DCI (mean standard deviation $112,081 [$54,022] vs. $86,159 [$38,817]; P < 0.001) and a significantly greater length of stay (21 days [11] vs. 18 days [8], P = 0.003, respectively). In propensity-adjusted linear regression analysis, both DCI (odds ratio, $13,871; 95% confidence interval, $7558-$20,185; P < 0.001) and length of stay (odds ratio, $3815 per day; 95% confidence interval, $3480-$4149 per day; P < 0.001) were found to significantly increase the cost., Conclusions: The significantly higher costs associated with DCI further support the evidence that adverse effects associated with DCI in aSAH pose a significant burden to the health care system., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Liver cirrhosis is associated with an increased risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, large studies analyzing the prognosis of cirrhotic patients after aSAH treatment are lacking. This study explores factors associated with inpatient mortality among aSAH patients with cirrhosis., Methods: All patients who underwent open or endovascular treatment for an aSAH at a large quaternary center between January 1, 2003, and July 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped into cirrhosis versus noncirrhosis groups. Univariate analysis determined variables associated with inpatient mortality. Variables with P < 0.20 were included in a propensity-adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis to predict inpatient mortality., Results: A total of 1419 patients were treated for aSAH; 17 (1.2%) had confirmed cirrhosis. Inpatient mortality was significantly higher among cirrhotic patients than noncirrhotic patients (35.3% vs. 6.8%; P < 0.001). In the univariate analysis for inpatient mortality, the variables cirrhosis, age >65 years, Charlson Comorbidity Index >4, aneurysm size ≥10 mm, Hunt and Hess grade >3, Fisher grade 4, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and posterior circulation aneurysm had P < 0.20 and were included in the multivariable analysis. The propensity-adjusted stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that cirrhosis (odds ratio [OR]: 12.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3-48.7), Hunt and Hess grade >3 (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 2.3-6.4), Fisher grade 4 (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.3-10.7), and DCI (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5-3.9) were associated with inpatient mortality (P ≤ 0.01)., Conclusions: Cirrhosis was a predictor of inpatient mortality among aSAH patients and was a stronger predictor than DCI or a poor Hunt and Hess grade among patients in this study., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In specialized neurosurgical centers, open microsurgery is routinely performed for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)., Objective: To compare the cost of endovascular vs microsurgical treatment for aSAH at a single quaternary center., Methods: All patients undergoing aSAH treatment from July 1, 2014, to July 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped based on primary treatment (microsurgery vs endovascular treatment). The primary outcome was the difference in total cost (including hospital, discharge facility, and all follow-up) using a propensity-adjusted analysis., Results: Of 384 patients treated for an aSAH, 234 (61%) were microsurgically treated and 150 (39%) were endovascularly treated. The mean cost of index hospitalization for these patients was marginally higher ($9504) for endovascularly treated patients ($103 980) than for microsurgically treated patients ($94 476) ( P = .047). For the subset of patients with follow-up data available, the mean total cost was $45 040 higher for endovascularly treated patients ($159 406, n = 59) than that for microsurgically treated patients ($114 366, n = 105) ( P < .001). After propensity scoring (adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Hunt and Hess grade, Fisher grade, aneurysms, and type/size/location), linear regression analysis of patients with follow-up data available revealed that microsurgery was independently associated with healthcare costs that were $37 244 less than endovascular treatment costs ( P < .001). An itemized cost analysis suggested that this discrepancy was due to differences in the rates of aneurysm retreatment and long-term surveillance., Conclusion: Microsurgical treatment for aSAH is associated with lower total healthcare costs than endovascular therapy. Aneurysm surveillance after endovascular treatments, retreatment, and device costs warrants attention in future studies., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2022. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients admitted to primary stroke centers are often transferred to neurosurgical and endovascular services at tertiary centers. The effect on microsurgical outcomes of the resultant delay in treatment is unknown. We evaluated microsurgical aSAH treatment > 72 h after the ictus., Methods: All aSAH patients treated at a single tertiary center between August 1, 2007, and July 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. The additional inclusion criterion was the availability of treatment data relative to time of bleed. Patients were grouped based on bleed-to-treatment time as having acute treatment (on or before postbleed day [PBD] 3) or delayed treatment (on or after PBD 4). Propensity adjustments were used to correct for statistically significant confounding covariables., Results: Among 956 aSAH patients, 92 (10%) received delayed surgical treatment (delayed group), and 864 (90%) received acute endovascular or surgical treatment (acute group). Reruptures occurred in 3% (26/864) of the acute group and 1% (1/92) of the delayed group (p = 0.51). After propensity adjustments, the odds of residual aneurysm (OR = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.04-0.17; p < 0.001) or retreatment (OR = 0.14; 95% CI = 0.06-0.29; p < 0.001) was significantly lower among the delayed group. The OR was 0.50 for rerupture, after propensity adjustments, in the delayed setting (p = 0.03). Mean Glasgow Coma Scale scores at admission in the acute and delayed groups were 11.5 and 13.2, respectively (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Delayed microsurgical management of aSAH, if required for definitive treatment, appeared to be noninferior with respect to retreatment, residual, and rerupture events in our cohort after adjusting for initial disease severity and significant confounding variables., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Nationwide study results have suggested varying trends in the incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) over time. Herein, trends over time for aSAH treated at a quaternary care center are compared with low-volume hospitals., Methods: Cases were retrospectively reviewed for patients with aSAH treated at our institution. Trend analyses were performed on the number of aSAH hospitalizations, treatment type, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Hunt and Hess grade, aneurysm location, aneurysm type, and in-hospital mortality. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried to compare the CCI scores of our patients with those of patients in low-volume hospitals (<20 aSAH/year) in our census division., Results: Some 1248 patients (321 during 2004-2006; 927 during 2008-2018) hospitalized with aSAH were treated with endovascular therapy (489, 39%) or microsurgery (759, 61%). A significant downtrend in the annual aSAH caseload occurred (123 patients in 2004, 75 in 2018, P < 0.001). A linear uptrend was observed for the mean CCI score of patients (R  2  = 0.539, P < 0.001), with no change to in-hospital mortality (R  2  = 0.220, P = 0.24). Mean (standard deviation) CCI for small-volume hospitals treating aSAH within our division was significantly lower than that of our patient population (1.8 [1.6] vs 2.1 [2.0]) for 2012-2015., Conclusions: A decreasing number of patients were hospitalized with aSAH throughout the study. Compared with patients with aSAH admitted in 2004, those admitted more recently were sicker in terms of preexisting comorbidity and neurologic complexity. These trends could be attributable to the increasing availability of neurointerventional services at smaller-volume hospitals capable of treating healthier patients., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) frequently suffer from vasospasm. We analyzed the association between absence of early angiographic vasospasm and early discharge., Methods: All aSAH patients treated from August 1, 2007, to July 31, 2019, at a single tertiary center were reviewed. Patients undergoing diagnostic digital subtraction angiography (DSA) on post-aSAH days 5 to 7 were analyzed; cohorts with and without angiographic vasospasm (angiographic reports by attending neurovascular surgeons) were compared. Primary outcome was hospital length of stay; secondary outcomes were intensive care unit length of stay, 30 day return to the emergency department (ED), and poor neurologic outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score >2., Results: A total of 298 patients underwent DSA on post-aSAH day 5, 6, or 7. Most patients (n=188, 63%) had angiographic vasospasm; 110 patients (37%) did not. Patients without vasospasm had a significantly lower mean length of hospital stay than vasospasm patients (18.0±7.1 days vs 22.4±8.6 days; p<0.001). The two cohorts did not differ significantly in the proportion of patients with mRS scores >2 at last follow-up or those returning to the ED before 30 days. After adjustment for Hunt and Hess scores, Fisher grade, admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, and age, logistic regression analysis showed that the absence of vasospasm on post-aSAH days 5-7 predicted discharge on or before hospital day 14 (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.8 to 6.4, p<0.001)., Conclusion: Lack of angiographic vasospasm 5 to 7 days after aSAH is associated with shorter hospitalization, with no increase in 30 day ED visits or poor neurologic outcome., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Drs AFD and FCA serve on the editorial board of the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. The other authors have no personal, financial, or institutional interest in any of the drugs, materials, or devices described in this manuscript., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: Good functional outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are often dependent on early detection and treatment of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). There is growing evidence that continuous monitoring with cranial electroencephalography (cEEG) can predict CVS and DCI. Therefore, the authors sought to assess the value of continuous cEEG monitoring for the detection of CVS and DCI in aSAH., Methods: The cerebrovascular database of a quaternary center was reviewed for patients with aSAH and cEEG monitoring between January 1, 2017, and July 31, 2019. Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission, aneurysm characteristics, and outcomes were abstracted from the medical record. Patient data were retrospectively analyzed for DCI and angiographically assessed CVS. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and odds ratio for cEEG, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCDS), CTA, and DSA in detecting DCI and angiographic CVS were calculated. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines querying the PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Web of Science, and Embase databases., Results: A total of 77 patients (mean age 60 years [SD 15 years]; female sex, n = 54) were included in the study. Continuous cEEG monitoring detected DCI and angiographically assessed CVS with specificities of 82.9% (95% CI 66.4%-93.4%) and 94.4% (95% CI 72.7%-99.9%), respectively. The sensitivities were 11.1% (95% CI 3.1%-26.1%) for DCI (n = 71) and 18.8% (95% CI 7.2%-36.4%) for angiographically assessed CVS (n = 50). Furthermore, TCDS detected angiographically determined CVS with a sensitivity of 87.5% (95% CI 71.0%-96.5%) and specificity of 25.0% (95% CI 7.3%-52.4%). In patients with DCI, TCDS detected vasospasm with a sensitivity of 85.7% (95% CI 69.7%-95.2%) and a specificity of 18.8% (95% CI 7.2%-36.4%). DSA detected vasospasm with a sensitivity of 73.9% (95% CI 51.6%-89.8%) and a specificity of 47.8% (95% CI 26.8%-69.4%)., Conclusions: The study results suggest that continuous cEEG monitoring is highly specific in detecting DCI as well as angiographically assessed CVS. More prospective studies with predetermined thresholds and endpoints are needed to assess the predictive role of cEEG in aSAH.

Background: Patients with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) are at higher risk of hydrocephalus requiring an external ventricular drain and long-term ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement., Objective: To investigate whether intraventricular tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration in patients with ventricular casting due to IVH reduces shunt dependence., Methods: Patients from the Post-Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial (PBRAT) database treated for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) from August 1, 2010, to July 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with and without IVH were compared. A second analysis compared IVH patients with and without ventricular casting. A third analysis compared patients with ventricular casting with and without intraventricular tPA treatment. The primary outcome was chronic hydrocephalus requiring permanent shunt placement., Results: Of 806 patients hospitalized with aSAH, 561 (69.6%) had IVH. IVH was associated with a higher incidence of shunt placement (25.7% vs 4.1%, P < .001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, IVH was independently associated with increased likelihood of shunt placement (odds ratio [OR]: 7.8, 95% CI: 3.8-16.2, P < .001). Generalized ventricular casting was present in 80 (14.3%) patients with IVH. In a propensity-score adjusted analysis, generalized ventricular casting was an independent predictor of shunt placement (OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.8-4.9, P < .001) in patients with IVH. Twenty-one patients with ventricular casting received intraventricular tPA. These patients were significantly less likely to require a shunt (OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.010-0.93, P = .04)., Conclusion: Ventricular casting in aSAH patients was associated with an increased risk of chronic hydrocephalus and shunt dependency. However, this risk decreased with the administration of intraventricular tPA., (© Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2021.)

Background: Outcomes for octogenarians and nonagenarians after an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are particularly ominous, with mortality rates well above 50%. The present analysis examines the neurologic outcomes of patients ≥ 80 years of age treated for aSAH., Method: A retrospective review was performed of all aSAH patients treated at Barrow Neurological Institute from January 1, 2003, to July 31, 2019. Patients were placed in 2 groups by age, < 80 vs ≥ 80 years. The ≥ 80-year-old group of octogenarians and nonagenarians was subsequently analyzed to compare treatment modalities. Poor neurologic outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of > 2., Results: During the study period, 1418 patients were treated for aSAH. The mean (standard deviation) age was 55.1 (13.6) years, the mean follow-up was 24.6 (40.0) months, and the rate of functional independence (mRS 0-2) at follow-up was 54% (751/1395). Logistic regression analysis found increasing age strongly associated with declining functional independence (R 2  = 0.929, p < 0.001). Forty-three patients ≥ 80 years old were significantly more likely to be managed endovascularly than with open microsurgery (67% [n = 29] vs 33% [n = 14], p < 0.001). Compared with younger patients, those ≥ 80 years old had an increased risk of mortality and poor neurologic outcomes at follow-up. In the ≥ 80-year-old group, only 4 patients had good outcomes; none of the 4 had preexisting comorbidities, and all 4 were treated endovascularly., Conclusions: Age is a significant prognostic indicator of functional outcomes and mortality after aSAH. Most octogenarians and nonagenarians with aSAH will become severely disabled or die., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Owing to prolonged hospitalization and the complexity of care required for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), these patients have a high risk of complications. The risk for wound infection after microsurgical treatment for aSAH was analyzed., Methods: All patients who underwent microsurgical treatment for aSAH between August 1, 2007, and July 31, 2019, and were recorded in the Post-Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial database were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were analyzed for risk factors for wound infection after treatment., Results: Of 594 patients who underwent microsurgical treatment for aSAH, 23 (3.9%) had wound infections. There was no significant difference in age between patients with wound infection and patients without infection (mean, 52.6 ± 12.2 years vs. 54.2 ± 4.0 years; P = 0.45). The presence of multiple comorbidities (including diabetes, tobacco use, and obesity), external ventricular drain, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, pneumonia, or urinary tract infection was not associated with an increased risk for wound infection. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in mean operative time between patients with wound infection and those without infection (280 ± 112 minutes vs. 260 ± 92 minutes; P = 0.38). Patients who required decompressive craniectomy (DC) were at increased risk of wound infection (odds ratio, 5.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-14.1; P = 0.002). Among the 23 total infections, 9 were diagnosed following cranioplasty after DC., Conclusions: Microsurgical treatment for aSAH is associated with a relatively low risk of wound infection. However, patients undergoing DC may be at an increased risk for infection. Additional attention and comprehensive wound care are warranted for these patients., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Older patients have a higher risk for poor neurological outcomes following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). This study compared functional independence in older versus younger patients with aSAH and compared endovascular coiling with microsurgical clipping in the older cohort., Methods: Patients enrolled in the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial (BRAT) with confirmed aSAH were analyzed. Patients were grouped by age: older (≥65 years old) or younger (<65 years old). The primary outcome analyzed was functional independence at long-term follow-up, defined as Barthel index >80 at 6-year follow-up. A second analysis was performed comparing functional independence in older patients treated with endovascular coiling versus microsurgical clipping., Results: Of 405 patients with aSAH enrolled in BRAT, 77 (19%) were ≥65 years old, and 328 (81%) were <65 years old. A lower percentage of older versus younger patients was functionally independent (Barthel index >80) at 6-year follow-up (42.0% [29/69] vs. 82.2% [217/264]; P < 0.001). A higher percentage of younger patients (69.7% [184/264]) had good neurological outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score <3) at 6-year follow-up compared with older patients (31.9% [22/69]; P < 0.001). A greater percentage of older patients treated with microsurgical clipping (51.0% [18/47]) versus endovascular coiling (22.7% [5/22]) had functional independence at 6-year follow-up (P < 0.04)., Conclusions: Patients ≥65 years old with aSAH are at increased risk for poor neurological outcomes compared with younger patients. Greater independence was observed in older patients after microsurgical clipping than after endovascular coiling at long-term follow-up., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is debilitating in elderly patients, but literature regarding this population is scarce, and clinical decision-making remains debated. Outcomes of elderly patients with aSAH stratified by age and clinical presentation were analyzed., Methods: Patients treated for aSAH were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were trichotomized into a young cohort (aged <60 years [n = 268]) and 2 elderly cohorts (aged 60-65 years [n = 60] and ≥65 years [n = 77]). The elderly cohorts were analyzed by poor or good scores at presentation (Hunt and Hess [HH] score >3 vs. ≤3, respectively) and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score >2)., Results: Of 137 elderly patients, 121 had a 6-year follow-up. The >65-year-olds (75% [52/69]) were more likely to have poor functional outcomes than the 60 to 65-year-olds (48% [25/52]) (odds ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-7.1; P = 0.002). Among those with an HH score ≤3 at presentation (n = 90), the >65-year-old cohort had poorer outcomes than the 60 to 65-year-old cohort at 6-year follow-up (69% [35/51] vs. 36% [14/39], respectively; odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-9.4; P = 0.003). Among patients with an HH score >3, no statistically significant differences in functional outcome were observed between the >65-year-old (n = 18) and 60 to 65-year-old (n = 13) cohorts., Conclusions: Elderly patients with aSAH are at high risk for poor functional outcomes. However, among those presenting with good HH scores, younger-elderly patients (aged 60-65 years) tend to fare better than older-elderly patients (aged >65 years). Elderly patients presenting with high-grade aSAH fare poorly regardless of age, which can inform clinical decision-making and prognostication., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: CT angiography (CTA) is widely used for the detection of vascular lesions in patients with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (ntSAH); however, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Our aim was to analyze the diagnostic yield of DSA after negative high-resolution CTA findings., Methods: Records of patients with a CTA-negative ntSAH at a single institution from 2014 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. ntSAH patterns were categorized as cortical, perimesencephalic, or diffuse. Subsequent DSA findings were compared across the three cohorts., Results: A total of 186 patients had CTA-negative ntSAH. The ntSAH pattern was identified as cortical (n=77, 41.4%), diffuse (n=60, 32.3%), or perimesencephalic (n=49, 26.3%). In eight patients (4%), DSA revealed a vascular lesion (one cervical arteriovenous fistula and seven atypical aneurysms) after negative CTA findings. All eight patients with positive DSA findings had diffuse SAH (13% of patients with a diffuse pattern). The seven aneurysms included four blister or dissecting (two basilar artery, one superior cerebellar artery, and one dorsal wall internal carotid artery), two fusiform (one posterior communicating artery and one anterior spinal artery), and one saccular aneurysm (middle cerebral artery)., Conclusion: DSA identified a causative lesion in 4% of patients with CTA-negative ntSAH, but only in patients with diffuse ntSAH. Most of the lesions detected were atypical aneurysms and were found on delayed angiograms. These results suggest that DSA can help to diagnose CTA-negative ntSAH caused by unusual aneurysms, and repeat DSA may be needed only for patients with diffuse ntSAH., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Catheter-related infections are a potentially life-threatening complication of having an external ventricular drain (EVD). Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are at increased risk of infection associated with prolonged ventricular drainage, with a reported mean infection rate of 6%. We report the EVD-associated infection rate among patients with aSAH managed with a unique standardized treatment protocol without an occlusive EVD dressing., Methods: Patients with aSAH admitted from August 2015 through August 2017 were retrospectively analyzed for EVD placement. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were obtained twice weekly for culture and routine studies. EVD-associated infection was defined as growth of CSF cultures., Results: During the 2-year study period, 122 patients presented with an aSAH, with 91 (74.6%) having EVD placement. In patients with EVDs, the mean age was 57.9 years (68% women); 88% of aSAHs were Fisher grade III or IV. Mean duration of EVD was 14 days, and 13% of patients required EVD replacement. Endovascular coiling and surgical clipping were performed in 34 (37%) and 53 (58%) patients with EVD, respectively. A total of 347 CSF studies were performed with no EVD-associated infections. There were 3 CSF samples with false-positive Gram stain results but no growth on concurrent or multiple repeat cultures., Conclusions: Using a standardized protocol for placement and management of EVDs in patients with aSAH is associated with low risk of CSF infection. Our study demonstrates that occlusive EVD dressings are not necessary and that routine CSF sampling in patients with EVD may lead to false-positive findings and unnecessary antibiotic administration., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ruptured aneurysms causing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) are associated with high morbidity. The presence of blood that completely fills the fourth ventricle (cast fourth ventricle, CFV) is thought to be particularly ominous, but studies documenting the outcome of such cases are lacking., Objective: To investigate the outcomes of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and CFV., Methods: We reviewed 406 patients enrolled in the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial (BRAT, NCT01593267, clinicaltrials.gov); 238 patients with aSAH and IVH were identified, and imaging was reviewed for the presence of CFV. Outcome was evaluated at the 1-yr follow-up. A poor outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score >2., Results: CFV was identified in 25 patients. Admission Glasgow Coma Score was lower in CFV patients, 7.8 versus 11.5 (P < .001). At discharge and the 1-yr follow-up, patients with CFV had a greater risk of a poor outcome (P < .001 and P = .002, respectively). In a subgroup analysis of 79 patients with IVH and initial Glasgow Coma Score ≤ 8, almost 50% of the patients with IVH but without CFV had made a good recovery versus 7% of patients with CFV (odds ratio [OR] 15, P = .002). On multivariate analysis, CFV was a greater predictor of a poor prognosis at 1 yr post-aSAH than Hunt and Hess grade >3 (6.4 OR vs 2.9 OR [P < .001], respectively)., Conclusion: The presence of CFV is a predictor of poor outcome in patients with aSAH. When compared to other patients with IVH and aSAH, CFV is a stronger predictor of a poor outcome than a poor Hunt and Hess Grade., (Copyright © 2018 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.)

Racial and socioeconomic health disparities are well documented in the literature. This study examined patient demographics, including socioeconomic status (SES), among individuals presenting with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) to identify factors associated with aSAH presentation. A retrospective assessment was conducted of all patients with aSAH and UIA who presented to a large-volume cerebrovascular center and underwent microsurgical treatment from January 2014 through July 2019. Race and ethnicity, insurance type, and SES data were collected for each patient. Comparative analysis of the aSAH and UIA groups was conducted. Logistic regression models were also employed to predict the likelihood of aSAH presentation based on demographic and socioeconomic factors. A total of 640 patients were included (aSAH group, 251; UIA group, 389). Significant associations were observed between race and ethnicity, SES, insurance type, and aneurysm rupture. Non-White race or ethnicity, lower SES, and having public or no insurance were associated with increased odds of aSAH presentation. The aSAH group had poorer functional outcomes and higher mortality rates than the UIA group. Patients who are non-White, have low SES, and have public or no insurance were disproportionately affected by aSAH, which is historically associated with poorer functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cautionary stance normally taken towards tranexamic acid (TXA) is rooted in concerns regarding its complication profile, namely its purported risk for venous thromboembolic events (VTEs). In the present review, we intend to bring increased attention to TXA as a remarkably valuable tool that does not appear to increase the risk for VTE when used as indicated in select patients. We queried three databases to identify reporting use of TXA during nontraumatic cranial neurosurgery procedures (excluded traumatic brain injury). Data gathered included VTE complications, deep venous thrombosis, use of allogeneic blood transfusions, estimated blood loss, and operative duration. Twenty-eight studies were deemed eligible for inclusion in the present meta-analysis, including nine studies on surgical resection of intracranial neoplasms, ten studies on aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and nine studies on craniosynostosis. In brain tumor surgery, TXA appears to successfully reduce blood loss without predisposing patients to VTE or seizure (P < 0.01). However, it does not appear to reduce rates of vasospasm in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (P = 0.27), and its administration is not associated with clinically meaningful differences in long term neurological outcomes. For pediatric patients undergoing craniosynostosis procedures, TXA similarly reduces blood loss (P < 0.01). Nonetheless, low dosing protocols should be used because they appear effective and the effects of high dose TXA in children have not been studied. TXA is an effective hemostatic agent that can be administered to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements for a wide range of neurosurgical applications in a broad spectrum of patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]