Prophylactic intra-arterial administration of fasudil hydrochloride for vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage.

PURPOSE: We evaluated patients treated with prophylactic intra-arterial administration of fasudil hydrochloride (IAF) after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 1998 and December 2012, 92 patients with aneurysmal SAH were treated with IAF for angiographic vasospasm without ischemic symptoms after their follow-up angiography. Patients comprised 50 women and 42 men, aged 24-83 (mean 56.6) years. IAF consisted of 15 mg of fasudil hydrochloride dissolved in 20 ml physiological saline and injected through a catheter during approximately 15 min, after diagnostic angiography. The clinical outcome was evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at discharge and ischemic lesions resulting from vasospasm were assessed on computed tomography (CT) scan at discharge. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients underwent surgical clipping and 44 patients underwent endovascular coiling. Angiographic improvement was observed in all patients (100 %). At discharge, 76 (83.0 %) of 92 patients showed good recovery on GOS. Nine patients developed progression of delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND) and three of these patients had ischemic lesions on CT scans. No patient had any significant changes in vital signs or any other adverse effects resulting from IAF. CONCLUSION: IAF therapy was safe and effective for patients with vasospasm following SAH. Prophylactic IAF therapy may prevent symptomatic vasospasm.

Intra-arterial Administration of Fasudil Hydrochloride for Vasospasm Following Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: Experience of 90 Cases.

BACKGROUND: we investigated the clinical efficacy of intra-arterial administration of fasudil hydrochloride for cerebral vasospasm. METHOD: we reviewed 90 cases treated with intra-arterial administration of fasudil hydrochloride between August 1998 and April 2009 and investigated the clinical efficacy for cerebral vasospasm. FINDINGS: angiographic improvement of vasospasm was noted in all procedures. Eight had ischemic lesion on CT at discharge in Group A, which included 39 patients who presented angiographic and symptomatic vasospasm. However, 4 (50%) of these eight were recovered with a condition of GR. No patients showed ischemic lesion on CT in Group B, which included 51 patients who presented angiographic vasospasm without symptoms. Two (3.3%) of 59 patients who presented angiographic vasospasm without symptoms at the initial follow-up angiography had ischemic lesion on CT at discharge. The 1-year follow-up showed 78.9% of GR. No patient showed any adverse effects resulting from intra-arterial administration of fasudil hydrochloride. CONCLUSION: intra-arterial administration of fasudil hydrochloride was an effective and safe management technique for vasospasm.