Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in young adults: a comparison between patients in the third and fourth decades of life

2003 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 276-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuyoshi Horiuchi ◽  
Yuichiro Tanaka ◽  
Kazuhiro Hongo ◽  
Shigeaki Kobayashi

Object. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage rarely occurs in young adults. The aim of this work was to clarify the clinical characteristics of ruptured aneurysms in young adults in the third and fourth decades of life and to compare these two age groups. Methods. The authors retrospectively investigated 2493 patients who underwent surgical repair for ruptured cerebral aneurysms during a 14-year period (1988–2001). There were 25 patients (1%) in the third decade of life and 106 patients (4.3%) in the fourth decade. In general, favorable outcome was achieved in both groups. There were significant differences in the sizes and locations of aneurysms between the two age groups. Among patients in the fourth decade of life, the aneurysm was large and was located more often on the anterior cerebral artery. Conclusions. In this study the authors summarize the clinical characteristics of a large series of 131 young adult patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. Congenital factors as well as hemodynamic stress may contribute to differences in aneurysm size and location between the two age groups.

2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biodun Ogungbo ◽  
Barbara Gregson ◽  
Alison Blackburn ◽  
Jane Barnes ◽  
Ramon Vivar ◽  
...  

Object. The authors reviewed the management protocols for young adults who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) at the Regional Neurosurgery Unit in Newcastle during a study period of 9 years. Aneurysmal SAH is uncommon in the age group selected (18–39 years) and, therefore, the performance of these patients has not been extensively reported in the literature. The authors also evaluated the good-grade rebleed rate (an index of management efficiency) in this cohort of patients. Methods. The Newcastle neurosurgical unit serves a population of close to 3 million people, and an average of 180 patients with SAH are seen each year. The majority of patients are transferred from other hospitals in the region. This study includes patients admitted between January 1990 and December 1998. A total of 1609 patients were admitted during this period, of whom 295 (18.4%) between the ages of 18 and 39 years constituted the study population of young adults. Two hundred ninety-five young adults presented with SAH; 181 (61.4%) were women and 114 (38.6%) were men, a ratio of 3:2. Of 246 patients in whom this value was recorded, 15 (6.1%) presented with a history of hypertension, and there was an association between hypertension and the occurrence of multiple aneurysms (Fisher two-tailed exact test, p = 0.008). Thirty-five patients (11.9%) presented with a hematoma on computerized tomography scans; of these, 20 (57%) were women and 15 were men. In six patients the lesion had rebled before treatment. The good-grade rebleed rate was three (1.7%) of 178. The overall favorable outcome rate was 83.8% (Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS] 4 and 5) and unfavorable outcome occurred in 16.2% (GOS 1–3), with a total of 40 deaths in this group (13%). Age had no influence on outcome in young adults. Comparing the outcome at discharge with the follow-up evaluation at 6 months revealed that patients in the moderate and severe disability groups continued to improve and many achieved good recovery. Conclusions. In this report the authors detail the outcome of a large number of young adults with SAH. The incidence of SAH was higher in the female population, although the ratio was not as high as previously reported. The authors have also demonstrated a progressive increase in the incidence of aneurysmal SAH with age, even in young adults. Hypertension but not age influenced the occurrence of multiple aneurysms. The good-grade rebleed rate is low, although it is not zero. Generally, a satisfactory outcome was obtained and significant continuing improvements were noted between discharge and follow-up evaluation. This reflects the power of recovery in young adults. These are people whose economic productivity and fertility are at peak levels and therefore the financial and social burden occasioned by less-than-perfect outcomes is large.


1988 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 332-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuji Inagawa ◽  
Mitsuo Yamamoto ◽  
Kazuko Kamiya ◽  
Hidenori Ogasawara

✓ A total of 299 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were classified into three age groups, that is, those aged 59 years or younger (Group 1: 159 patients, 53%), those aged 60 to 69 years (Group 2: 85 patients, 28%), and those aged 70 years or older (Group 3: 55 patients, 18%). A comparison was made of the surgical indications and their overall management outcome in these age groups. The overall outcome at 1 year after SAH of Group 3 was significantly poorer than that of Group 1 (p < 0.01) or Group 2 (p < 0.01), but no significant difference could be demonstrated between Groups 1 and 2. Overall, 104 of the 299 patients died, for a mortality rate of 35%. The mortality rate by age group was 29% for Group 1, 33% for Group 2, and 55% for Group 3. Surgery was performed on 122 patients (77%) in Group 1, 56 (66%) in Group 2, and 25 (45%) in Group 3. The overall operative outcome at 1 year after SAH in Group 3 was significantly poorer than that of Group 1 (p < 0.01), but no significant difference was observed in this regard between Groups 1 and 2. The operative mortality rate of the patients in Groups 1 , 2, and 3 who were preoperatively in Hunt and Hess Grades I and II was 1%, 7%, and 22%, respectively (no significant difference). By life-table analysis the 5-year survival probability was 65% for Group 1, 60% for Group 2, and 37% for Group 3. The rate of patients surviving in good condition or in a disabled but independent condition at 1 year after SAH was 93% and no statistically significant difference in survival probability was observed among the three age groups.


1995 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael K. Morgan ◽  
Maurice J. Day ◽  
Nicholas Little ◽  
Verity Grinnell ◽  
William Sorby

✓ The authors report two cases of treatment by intraarterial papaverine of cerebral vasospasm complicating the resection of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Both cases had successful reversal of vasospasm documented on angiography. In the first case sustained neurological improvement occurred, resulting in a normal outcome by the time of discharge. In the second case, neurological deterioration occurred with the development of cerebral edema. This complication was thought to be due to normal perfusion pressure breakthrough, on the basis of angiographic arterial vasodilation and increased cerebral blood flow. These two cases illustrate an unusual complication of surgery for AVMs and demonstrate that vasospasm (along with intracranial hemorrhage, venous occlusion, and normal perfusion pressure breakthrough) should be considered in the differential diagnosis of delayed neurological deterioration following resection of these lesions. Although intraarterial papaverine may be successful in dilating spastic arteries, it may also result in pathologically high flows following AVM resection. However, this complication has not been seen in our experience of treating aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage by this technique.


Infection ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elda Righi ◽  
Paola Della Siega ◽  
Maria Merelli ◽  
Nadia Castaldo ◽  
Anna Beltrame ◽  
...  

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 865-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry J. Cloft ◽  
Nasser Razack ◽  
David F. Kallmes

Object. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cerebral saccular aneurysms in patients with persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA). The prevalence of cerebral saccular aneurysms in patients with PPTA previously has been reported to be 14 to 32%, but this rate range is unreliable because it is based on collections of published case reports rather than a series of patients chosen in an unbiased manner.Methods. The authors retrospectively evaluated their own series of 34 patients with PPTA to determine the prevalence of cerebral aneurysms in this population. The prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in patients with PPTA was approximately 3% (95% confidence interval 0–9%).Conclusions. The prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in patients with PPTA is no greater than the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in the general population.


1989 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Newell ◽  
Peter D. LeRoux ◽  
Ralph G. Dacey ◽  
Gary K. Stimac ◽  
H. Richard Winn

✓ Computerized tomography (CT) infusion scanning can confirm the presence or absence of an aneurysm as a cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Eight patients who presented with spontaneous hemorrhage were examined using this technique. In five patients the CT scan showed an aneurysm which was later confirmed by angiography or surgery; angiography confirmed the absence of an aneurysm in the remaining three patients. This method is an easy effective way to detect whether an aneurysm is the cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.


2004 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Reilly ◽  
Chris Amidei ◽  
Jocelyn Tolentino ◽  
Babak S. Jahromi ◽  
R. Loch Macdonald

Object. This study was conducted for two purposes. The first was to determine whether a combination of measurements of subarachnoid clot volume, clearance rate, and density could improve prediction of which patients experience vasospasm. The second was to determine if each of these three measures could be used independently to predict vasospasm. Methods. Digital files of the cranial computerized tomography (CT) scans obtained in 75 consecutive patients admitted within 24 hours of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were analyzed in a blinded fashion by an observer who used quantitative imaging software to measure the volume of SAH and its density. Clot clearance rates were measured by quantifying SAH volume on subsequent CT scans. Vasospasm was defined as new onset of a focal neurological deficit or altered consciousness 5 to 12 days after SAH in the absence of other causes of deterioration, diagnosed with the aid of or exclusively by confirmatory transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and/or cerebral angiography. Univariate analysis showed that vasospasm was significantly associated with the SAH grade as classified on the Fisher scale, the initial clot volume, initial clot density, and percentage of clot cleared per day (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, initial clot volume and percentage of clot cleared per day were significant predictors of vasospasm (p < 0.05), whereas Fisher grade and initial clot density were not. Conclusions. Quantitative analysis of subarachnoid clot shows that vasospasm is best predicted by initial subarachnoid clot volume and the percentage of clot cleared per day.


1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Lanzino ◽  
Neal F. Kassell ◽  
Teresa P. Germanson ◽  
Gail L. Kongable ◽  
Laura L. Truskowski ◽  
...  

✓ Advanced age is a recognized prognostic indicator of poor outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The relationship of age to other prognostic factors and outcome was evaluated using data from the multicenter randomized trial of nicardipine in SAH conducted in 21 neurosurgical centers in North America. Among the 906 patients who were studied, five different age groups were considered: 40 years or less, 41 to 50, 51 to 60, 61 to 70, and more than 71 years. Twenty-three percent of the individuals enrolled were older than 60 years of age. Women outnumbered men in all age groups. Level of consciousness (p = 0.0002) and World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade (p = 0.0001) at admission worsened with advancing age. Age was also related to the presence of a thick subarachnoid clot (p = 0.0001), intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.0003), and hydrocephalus (p = 0.0001) on an admission computerized tomography scan. The rebleeding rate increased from 4.5% in the youngest age group to 16.4% in patients more than 70 years of age (p = 0.002). As expected, preexisting medical conditions, such as diabetes (p = 0.028), hypertension (p = 0.0001), and pulmonary (p = 0.0084), myocardial (p = 0.0001), and cerebrovascular diseases (p = 0.0001), were positively associated with age. There were no age-related differences in the day of admission following SAH, timing of the surgery and/or location, and size (small vs. large) of the ruptured aneurysm. During the treatment period, the incidence of severe complications (that is, those complications considered life threatening by the reporting investigator) increased with advancing age, occurring in 28%, 33%, 36%, 40%, and 46% of the patients in each advancing age group, respectively (p = 0.0002). No differences were observed in the reported frequency of surgical complications. No age-related differences were found in the overall incidence of angiographic vasospasm; however, symptomatic vasospasm was more frequently reported in the older age groups (p = 0.01). Overall outcome, assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale at 3 months post-SAH, was poorer with advancing age (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis of overall outcome, adjusting for the different prognostic factors, did not remove the age effect, which suggests that the aging brain has a less optimal response to the initial bleeding. Age as a risk factor is a continuum; however, there seems to be a significant increased risk of poor outcome after the age of 60 years.


2004 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 414-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Liu ◽  
Michael S. Tenner ◽  
Oren N. Gottfried ◽  
Edwin A. Stevens ◽  
Joshua M. Rosenow ◽  
...  

Object. Cerebral vasospasm that is caused by aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and that is refractory to maximal medical management can be treated with selective intraarterial papaverine infusions. The effects of single papaverine treatments on cerebral circulation time are well known. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of multiple, repeated papaverine infusions on the cerebral circulation time in patients with recurrent vasospasm. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted in 17 patients who received multiple intraarterial papaverine infusions in 91 carotid artery (CA) territories for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm. Cerebral circulation times were measured from the first angiographic image, in which peak contrast was seen above the supraclinoid internal CA, to the peak filling of cortical veins. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores assessed 12 months after discharge were reviewed. Cerebral circulation times in 16 CA territories were measured in a control group of 11 patients. Seventeen patients received a total of 91 papaverine treatments. Prolonged cerebral circulation times improved after 90 (99%) of 91 papaverine treatments. The prepapaverine mean cerebral circulation time was 6.54 seconds (range 3.35–27 seconds) and the immediate postpapaverine mean cerebral circulation time was 4.19 seconds (range 2.1–12.6 seconds), an overall mean decrease of 2.35 seconds (36%, p < 0.001). Recurrent vasospasm reflected by prolonged cerebral circulation times continued to improve with subsequent papaverine infusions. Repeated infusions were just as successful quantitatively as the primary treatment (mean change 2.06 seconds). The mean cerebral circulation time in the control group was 5.21 seconds (range 4–6.8 seconds). In five patients a dramatic reversal of low-attenuation changes was detected on computerized tomography scans. The mean GOS score at 12 months after discharge was 3.4. Conclusions. The preliminary results indicate that multiple intraarterial papaverine treatments consistently improve cerebral circulation times, even with repeated infusions in cases of recurrent vasospasm.


2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tõnu Rätsep ◽  
Toomas Asser

Object. In this study the authors evaluated the relative role of cerebral hemodynamic impairment (HDI) in the pathogenesis of delayed cerebral ischemia and poor clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods. Cerebral hemodynamics were assessed daily with transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography in 55 consecutive patients with verified SAH. Hemodynamic impairment was defined as blood flow velocity (BFV) values consistent with vasospasm in conjunction with impaired autoregulatory vasodilation as evaluated using the transient hyperemic response tests in the middle cerebral arteries. A total of 1344 TCD examinations were performed, in which the evaluation of HDI was feasible during 80.9% and HDI was registered during 12% of the examinations. It was found that HDI occurred in 60% of patients and was frequently recorded in conjunction with severe vasospasm (p < 0.05) and a rapid increase of BFV values (p < 0.05). Detection of HDI was closely associated with the development of delayed ischemic brain damage after SAH (p < 0.05). Furthermore, because delayed ischemia was never observed in cases in which vasospasm had not led to the development of HDI, its occurrence increased significantly the likelihood of subsequent cerebral ischemia among the patients with vasospasm (p < 0.05). Detection of HDI was independently related to unfavorable clinical outcome according to Glasgow Outcome Scale at 6 months after SAH (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The results showed that HDI is common after SAH and can be evaluated with TCD ultrasonography in routine clinical practice. Detection of HDI could be useful for identifying patients at high or low risk for delayed ischemic complications and unfavorable clinical outcome after SAH.


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