Outcome in patients presenting with an aneurysm related intracerebral haemorrhage in the post-ISAT era.

BACKGROUND: The outcome in patients who present with an aneurysm related intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is poor. There are many treatment strategies now available to treat this group of patients. The management approach is dominated by a direct surgical approach for both aneurysm treatment and clot evacuation. It remains unclear, however, whether overall outcomes justify an aggressive treatment approach in this group of patients. We report our results of a pragmatic strategy based on availability of expertise and patient condition in patients presenting with an aneurysm related intracerebral haemorrhage. METHODS: We retrospectively identified and analysed prospectively collected data of SAH patients with concurrent ICH. The grade at presentation, treatment decision, complications, length of hospital stay, discharge destination, and 6 month outcome (Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at 6 months) were recorded. FINDINGS: Between August 2008 and January 2010, 40 patients (9.2%) with ICH were identified from the 433 patients with SAH. Twenty five patients (63%) were transferred across to the neurosurgical centre for further investigations and management. Most patients presented with poor WFNS grade (61%) and had right sided middle cerebral artery aneurysms (58%) with frontotemporal (42%) or temporoparietal (42%) haematomas. Management included craniotomy/craniectomy and clipping of the aneurysm in 18 patients (72%), coiling followed by surgical clot evacuation in five (20%), and craniectomy and coiling (4%) or coiling alone (4%). The outcome in treated patients was favourable (GOS 4 or 5) in 46% of patients with a 35% overall mortality. CONCLUSION: The presence of an aneurysm related ICH does not justify a nihilistic approach, as aggressive treatment is associated with a favourable outcome in 46% of patients. In the post-ISAT era, management should be patient specific and consideration should be given to both endovascular and open surgical therapy.

The significance of altered temperature after traumatic brain injury: an analysis of investigations in experimental and human studies: part 2.

Raised body temperature is a common occurrence after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is widely accepted that experimental evidence points to a harmful effect of raised temperature both during and after TBI. Consequently, the policy of many neurocritical care units is to implement therapies for body temperature control. This article reviews the evidence that links spontaneous temperature changes with worsened outcome after experimentally-induced and human brain trauma. The current evidence-base and rationale for treatment of raised temperature after TBI is presented with discussion positing areas for further work to explore the notion that raised temperature may not be deleterious in all neurosurgical patients.

High-Resolution Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Angiogram-Negative Non-Perimesencephalic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: Standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) rarely identifies the cause of hemorrhage in patients with an angiogram-negative, non-perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Yet up to 10 % of these patients have recurrent hemorrhage. The aim of the study was to explore the potential role of high-resolution contrast-enhanced 3-Tesla vessel wall-MRI in patients with angiogram-negative SAH. METHODS: We performed intracranial vessel wall-MRI of the circle of Willis using a 3-Tesla scanner in consecutive patients presenting with a spontaneous, angiogram-negative, non-perimesencephalic SAH. Vessel wall-MRI included T1-, T2-, and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted two-dimensional black-blood sequences in multiple planes (voxel size 0.4 × 0.4 × 2.0 mm). Two neuroradiologists independently scored abnormalities of the arterial wall. RESULTS: In all, 11 patients (mean age 59 years) underwent vessel wall-MRI. A total of seven patients had vessel wall abnormalities despite normal catheter angiography. Two patients had focal abnormalities contiguous with the outer margin of the basilar artery wall for which we considered a differential of ruptured blood blister aneurysm, thrombosed aneurysm, and loculated extramural blood from elsewhere. Two patients had arterial wall enhancement involving multiple arteries, possibly secondary to SAH. Three patients had arterial wall enhancement at sites of dural penetration, remote from the SAH, likely related to age and atherosclerotic risk factors. Vessel wall-MRI did not alter patient management in this cohort. CONCLUSION: Vessel wall-MRI showed abnormalities in seven patients with angiogram-negative SAH. These findings did not alter patient management, but the findings may be useful for other physicians who choose to perform vessel wall-MRI in this patient population.

Decreased Superior Sagittal Sinus Diameter and Jugular Bulb Narrowing Are Associated with Poor Clinical Outcome in Vein of Galen Arteriovenous Malformation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Few clinical and imaging findings are known to be associated with poor outcome in neonates and infants with vein of Galen arteriovenous malformations. In the present consecutive series of 35 patients, we evaluated both the diameter of the superior sagittal sinus at onset and the diameter of the jugular bulb on follow-up as potential factors related to poor outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive neonates and infants who were prospectively collected in a single-center data base were included in this review. Outcome was assessed by using the Bicêtre Outcome Score. Both the absolute diameter of the superior sagittal sinus and its ratio to the biparietal diameter were measured at onset, compared with age-matched controls, and correlated to patient outcome. RESULTS: The diameter of the superior sagittal sinus at onset and its ratio to the biparietal diameter were significantly smaller in the vein of Galen arteriovenous malformation population compared with the matched population (P = .0001) and were correlated significantly with a risk of poor clinical outcome (P = .008). Development of jugular bulb narrowing was also related to poor clinical outcome (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased superior sagittal sinus diameter may reflect a decrease of cerebral blood flow due to cerebral arterial steal and intracranial hydrovenous disorders. This finding may be considered cerebral blood flow deterioration and thus taken into consideration in the management decisions for patients with vein of Galen arteriovenous malformations. Likewise, our data suggest that progressive jugular bulb narrowing may indicate earlier intervention to prevent severe narrowing.