Chronological Change of the Clinical Features and Treatment Outcomes for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Japan: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treatment has progressed, and patients are rapidly aging in Japan. Consequently, dynamic changes must have emerged in the clinical practice of SAH. This study aimed to elucidate chronological changes of aneurysmal SAH and the prognostic factors in the previous quarter century in Japan. We conducted a retrospective survey regarding aneurysmal SAH in eight institutions in Japan. The study included 848, 863, and 781 patients in the first (1989-1993), second (1999-2003), and third (2009-2013) periods, respectively. The chronological changes of factors that influenced the poor outcomes and differences between the nonelderly (<75 years) and elderly patients were investigated. Mean age was significantly higher in patients in the third period (61.4 years) than in those in the other two periods (first, 57.8 years; second, 59.5 years). During these periods, the proportion of good outcomes did not change; however, the mortality rate significantly decreased from 19% in the first period to 11% and 9.2% in the second and third periods, respectively. The poor outcome was mainly caused by the significantly higher incidence of systemic complication and procedural complication in the first period and the significantly lower incidence of delayed ischemic neurological deficit in the third period. The elderly patients had significantly poorer clinical outcomes than the nonelderly ones. During the last 25 years, the age of patients with aneurysmal SAH has rapidly increased. The study results may contribute to the improvement of the treatment strategy of SAH in advanced countries with a rapidly aging population.

Rapid reduction of acute subdural hematoma and redistribution of hematoma: case report.

An 88-year-old woman presented with acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) which showed rapid resolution on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. She was transferred to our hospital after falling out of bed. On admission, she was comatose with Japan Coma Scale score of 200 and Glasgow Coma Scale score of E1V1M2. Brain CT showed a thick left frontotemporal ASDH. Conservative treatment consisted of 200 ml of glycerol administered intravenously twice a day, and maintenance in the approximately 20 degree head-up position to reduce intracranial pressure. Three days later, her consciousness recovered to Japan Coma Scale score of 30 and Glasgow Coma Scale score of E2V4M5. CT showed obvious reduction of the hematoma without brain or scalp swelling. Spinal MR imaging detected no redistribution of hematoma to the spine. The present case illustrates that rapid spontaneous reduction of ASDH may occur by redistribution of hematoma, mainly to the supratentorial subdural space because of brain atrophy.

Bony carotid canal hypoplasia in patients with moyamoya disease.

OBJECT: The natural history of moyamoya disease is not well known. We have observed that the bony carotid canal is hypoplastic in patients with adult onset moyamoya disease. Bony carotid canal development should represent internal carotid artery (ICA) development, and may stop with the beginning of ICA stenosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the onset of moyamoya disease by measuring the bony carotid canal. METHODS: The normal diameter of the bony carotid canal was evaluated on 4-mm thick bone window CT scans of the skull base in 60 Japanese patients aged 20-80 years, who had minor head trauma or headache considered to be unrelated to the skull base or arterial systems. The relationship between age and bony carotid canal development was assessed in a second group of 50 patients aged 0-19 years, including 10 under 2 years, using CT scans with the same parameters. The diameter of the bony carotid canal in 17 Japanese patients with moyamoya disease was measured. RESULTS: The normal diameter in adults was 5.27 +/- 0.62 mm (mean +/- SD). The bony carotid canal developed rapidly before approximately 2 years of age. After fusion of the bony suture, the bony carotid canal developed slowly. The mean diameter of the bony carotid canal was 3.31 +/- 0.44 mm in 11 adult patients with adult-onset moyamoya disease. According to the apparent curve of bony carotid canal development, ICA stenosis was assumed to start in early childhood. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that most cases of Asian moyamoya disease may arise in childhood and that many Asian adult patients with moyamoya disease may develop occlusive vasculopathy in childhood.