Cognitive Sequelae of Unruptured and Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms and their Treatment: Modalities for Neuropsychological Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive sequelae frequently follow subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and include deficits across multiple domains of executive function. This factor affects overall functional outcomes negatively, especially in younger patients. Several clinical correlates predict development and severity of cognitive dysfunction after SAH. Hypothetical mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in the absence of radiographic lesion include cerebral hypoperfusion and blood breakdown products, resulting in perturbed interneuronal communication and network synchrony, excitotoxicity, and altered microRNA expression. METHODS: The PubMed database was searched for articles discussing cognitive outcomes in patients with unruptured and ruptured intracranial aneurysmal disease, sequelae of treatment, and modalities for neuropsychologic testing. RESULTS: Treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, although capable of preventing SAH, comes with its own set of complications and may also affect cognitive function. Neuropsychological tests such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Mini-Mental Status Examination, and others have proved useful in evaluating cognitive decline. Studies using functional neurologic imaging modalities have identified regions with altered activation patterns during various cognitive tasks. The sum of research efforts in this field has provided useful insights and an initial understanding of cognitive dysfunction after aneurysm treatment and SAH that should prove useful in guiding and rendering future investigations more fruitful. CONCLUSIONS: Development of finer and more sensitive neuropsychological tests in evaluating the different domains of cognitive function after aneurysm treatment and SAH in general will be useful in accurately determining outcomes after ictus and comparing efficacy of different therapeutic strategies.

Management of Tiny Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: A Comparative Effectiveness Analysis.

Importance: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) are relatively common in the general population and are being increasingly diagnosed; a significant proportion are tiny (≤3 mm) aneurysms. There is significant heterogeneity in practice and lack of clear guidelines on the management of incidental, tiny UIAs. It is important to quantify the implications of different management strategies in terms of health benefits to patients. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of routine treatment (aneurysm coiling) vs 3 strategies for imaging surveillance compared with no preventive treatment or routine follow-up of tiny UIAs. Design, Setting, and Participants: A decision-analytic model-based comparative effectiveness analysis was conducted from May 1 to June 30, 2017, using inputs from the medical literature. PubMed searches were performed to identify relevant literature for all key model inputs, each of which was derived from the clinical study with the most robust data and greatest applicability. Analysis included 10 000 iterations simulating adult patients with incidental detections of UIAs 3 mm or smaller and no history of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Interventions: The following 5 management strategies for tiny UIAs were evaluated: annual magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) screening, biennial MRA screening, MRA screening every 5 years, aneurysm coiling and follow-up, and no treatment or preventive follow-up. Main Outcomes and Measures: A Markov decision model for lifetime rupture was constructed from a societal perspective per 10 000 patients with incidental, tiny UIAs. Outcomes were assessed in terms of quality-adjusted life-years. Probabilistic, 1-way, and 2-way sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: In this analysis of 10 000 iterations simulating adult patients with a mean age of 50 years, the base-case calculation shows that the management strategy of no treatment or preventive follow-up has the highest health benefit (mean [SD] quality-adjusted life-years, 19.40 [0.31]). Among the management strategies that incorporate follow-up imaging, MRA every 5 years is the best strategy with the next highest effectiveness (mean [SD] quality-adjusted life-years, 18.05 [0.62]). The conclusion remains robust in probabilistic and 1-way sensitivity analyses. No routine follow-up remains the optimal strategy when the annual growth rate and risk of rupture of growing aneurysms are varied. When the annual risk of rupture of nongrowing UIAs is less than 1.7% (0.23% in base case scenario), no follow-up is the optimal strategy. If annual risk of rupture is more than 1.7%, coiling should be performed directly. Conclusions and Relevance: Given the current literature, no preventive treatment or imaging follow-up is the most effective strategy in patients with aneurysms that are 3 mm or smaller, resulting in better health outcomes. More aggressive imaging surveillance for aneurysm growth or preventive treatment should be reserved for patients with a high risk of rupture. Given these findings, it is important to critically evaluate the appropriateness of current clinical practices, and potentially determine specific guidelines to reflect the most effective management strategy for patients with incidental, tiny UIAs.

Cognitive impairment and preferences for current health.

BACKGROUND: We assessed preferences for current health using the visual analogue scale (VAS), standard gamble (SG), time trade-off (TTO), and willingness to pay (WTP) in patients with cerebral aneurysms, a population vulnerable to cognitive deficits related to aneurysm bleeding or treatment. METHODS: We measured VAS, SG, TTO, and WTP values for current health in 165 outpatients with cerebral aneurysms. We assessed cognitive impairment with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE; scores < 24 = cognitive impairment). We examined the distributions of preference responses stratified by cognitive status, and the relationship between preferences and cognitive impairment, patient characteristics, and aneurysm history. RESULTS: Eleven patients (7%) had MMSE scores < 24. The distribution of preferences responses from patients with cognitive impairment had greater variance (SG, 0.39 vs. 0.21, P = 0.001; TTO, 0.36 vs. 0.24, P = 0.017) and altered morphology (VAS, P = 0.012; SG, P = 0.023) compared to the responses of unimpaired patients. There was good correlation between most preference measures for unimpaired patients (VAS:TTO, rho = 0.19, P = 0.018; SG:TTO, rho = 0.36, P < 0.001; SG:WTP, rho = -0.33, P < 0.001) and a trend towards significance with another pairing (VAS:WTP, rho = 0.16, P = 0.054). In subjects with cognitive impairment, there was a significant correlation only between VAS and TTO scores (rho = 0.76, P = 0.023). Separate regression models showed that cognitive impairment was associated with lower preferences on the VAS (beta = -0.12, P = 0.048), SG (beta = -0.23, P = 0.002), and TTO (beta = -0.17, P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment is associated with lower preferences for current health in patients with cerebral aneurysms. Cognitively impaired patients have poor inter-preference test correlations and different response distributions compared to unimpaired patients.

[Assessment of mental condition and anxiety in patients receiving neuroendovascular treatment].

OBJECTIVE: Neuroendovascular treatment (NET) is an effective and minimally invasive procedure used for patients with vascular disease of the central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to examine anxiety levels using standardized psychometric tools and an original questionnaire among patients before and after NET. METHOD: A total of 40 patients who underwent NET were included. There were 18 patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysm, 18 with carotid stenosis, and 4 other cases. Patients were asked to complete a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and also to fill out a questionnaire about perioperative anxiety. It elicited the following information: (a) state-anxiety score and level before and after NET; (b) trait-anxiety score and level before and after NET; and (c) perioperative anxiety about NET. In all cases, the procedure was performed under local anesthesia. RESULTS: The preprocedural state-anxiety score was high in many patients (82%). The principal cause of the preprocedural anxiety was the procedure-related complications (92%). Patients with cerebral aneurysm experienced anxiety during the procedure because they could not know which stage of the procedure was involved. Their state-anxiety score was improved in the postprocedural examination (88%). However, patients were still anxious about postoperative complications and recurrence, particularly those with cerebral aneurysm. Patients with cerebral aneurysm generally tended to experience a higher level of anxiety than those with carotid stenosis. CONCLUSION: Though NET is apt to be thought as a relatively easy procedure, patients actually felt much anxiety, especially those with cerebral aneurysm. Due care for perioperative anxiety in patients who undergo NET is important.

Description of quality of life and its predictors in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: According to previous studies, the quality of life is usually substantially altered in patients who have suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage of an aneurysmal origin. Some studies have attempted to find out which factors predict the deterioration in quality of life. Our study will try to describe the quality of life of these patients and discover which variables may predict it in each of its dimensions. METHODS: The participants were 70 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage between 15 and 85 years of age. The instrument used to measure the quality of life is the SF-36 with its eight dimensions. The predictor variables introduced into the multiple linear regressions are neurological condition on admission [World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) scale and Hunt and Hess scale], extension of the hemorrhage (Fisher scale), sex, age, physical handicaps, and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) on release. RESULTS: The results showed that 42.9% of the patients had a deteriorated quality of life after 4 months, and that the most affected dimension was the Physical Role (60%). The two factors that predict quality of life are sex and physical handicaps. Other factors that intervene are the GOS on release and the WFNS. CONCLUSIONS: The patients who have experienced an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage show greater difficulty in performing daily activities, and they present more depression and anxiety. The absence of handicaps and being male are predictor factors for an unaffected quality of life.

Outpatient rehabilitation of patients with chronic cognitive impairments after ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysms reduces the burden of care: a pilot study.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To describe the functional outcome of 19 patients with anterior communicating artery aneurysm following the completion of an inter-disciplinary out-patient rehabilitation programme. RESEARCH DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study. SETTING: Community-based inter-disciplinary outpatient programme. PATIENTS: n = 19; consecutive referred sample, mean 182 days post-onset; in-patient rehabilitation completed. INTERVENTION: Inter-disciplinary treatment of functional activities; 2-5 hours/day, 3-5 days/week; mean duration: 55-57 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Supervision rating scale (SRS) and change in prevalence at admission and discharge of executive impairments, memory, confabulation, apathy, initiation, social inappropriateness and incontinence. RESULTS: Sixty per cent of the patients showed a clinically significant improvement in their SRS from requiring full-time supervision to part-time supervision. Change in SRS was correlated with change in the impairments of executive function, memory and confabulation. CONCLUSION: Although pervasive impairments associated with this disorder may limit capacity for even moderate independence, substantial reduction in direct supervision by family members may be achieved.

Neuropsychological assessment after microsurgical clipping or endovascular treatment for anterior communicating artery aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: After open surgery for ruptured ACoA aneurysms, several patients who have achieved a favourable neurological outcome still exhibit significant cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive performances in patients with ACoA aneurysms submitted to different therapeutic options such as endovascular treatment and surgical clipping. METHODS: We evaluated 37 consecutive patients in WFNS grade I or II, who underwent an early treatment (within 48 hours) of a bleeding ACoA aneurysm: 20 out of 37 were surgically clipped (group A) and 17 were treated with endovascular coiling (group B). These two groups were compared with 16 patients (group C) with subarachnoid haemorrhage and negative cerebral panangiography and with 18 volunteers (group D) without neurological or psychiatric disorders. All patients were neurologically intact at discharge and were in Glasgow Outcome Scale 1 at 6 months follow-up after SAH. All subjects were tested to assess selective attention, verbal, spatial and logical memory, frontal lobe executive functions, language and intelligence. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were also examined. FINDINGS: Selective attention, verbal and spatial memory, and intelligence tests didn't show any significant difference between the patients and the controls. Surgically treated patients showed a significant worse performance on the logical memory and on the frontal lobe executive functions compared to controls, while the endovascular group and the group C (not treated) showed a significant decrease only in the literal fluency score.Moreover, the surgical group showed a significant impairment in using grammatical and syntactical rules to produce sentences. No significant difference was found between the group B, C and controls. Treated patients were not significantly more depressive or anxious than controls. INTERPRETATION: Investigation of neuropsychological deficits can show an impairment, even in patients classified as good outcome by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). The frontal lobe functions and language are impaired especially in surgically treated in comparison with controls, but no significant difference was found respect to the endovascular and no treated patients (group C).