The relationship between the level of vitamin D and ruptured intracranial aneurysms among patients with high sun exposure.

Non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) accounts for 3-5% of acute strokes. Intracranial aneurysm is the most common cause of non-traumatic SAH. Vitamin D influences the cardiovascular system, including the formation and rupture of cerebral aneurysms. To evaluate the serum vitamin D level in patients living in the tropical zone who suffered aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and its correlation with demographic and neurological characteristics. This is an analytical cross-sectional study to assess the serum level of vitamin D in a study population of 99 patients treated and diagnosed with aSAH in a public hospital in Recife-PE over a period of 12 months. In the study sample, composed of individuals with high sun exposure due to the lifestyle they lead in a tropical region, we observed hypovitaminosis D (85.9%), with a median of 19.9 ng/ml, although the majority of individuals are skin with high concentration of melanin (Fitzpatrick skin type IV and V). In addition, rates of sun exposure are high to all patients (Solar Index 9.03 P50). Most individuals were female (79.8%); there was no statistical difference in solar exposure/solar index between genders. As for the neurological repercussions, there was no statistical relevance in the clinical prognostic scales evaluated. As the sample was composed mainly of individuals whose economic activity is agriculture, the values of solar index found are vastly higher than those of other studies conducted in high latitude regions. In line with the literature review, some aspects were raised with the objective of justifying such findings that go from the base of the poor diet of these individuals, the increase of melanin in the skin and genetic alterations that directs us to possible mechanisms of natural photoprotection to high sun exposure. Thus, we had a vast majority (85%) of hypovitaminosis D, which in fact makes us wonder if there is any influence of calcitriol on vitamin D receptors in vascular walls and in the cardiovascular system as a whole, which influence bleeding events of this nature. As for the neurological repercussions, measured using assessment scales (Glasgow coma scale, WFNS scale, Hunt-Hess and Fisher's tomographic scale) there was no significant difference in the results. As it is only a descriptive study, the causal relationship of the facts cannot be established. However, in a population exposed to high sun exposure and affected by aneurysmal SAH, there is a significant rate of hypovitaminosis D, which supports the hypothesis that vitamin D plays a role in vascular pathologies, such as cerebral aneurysms and SAH.

The Role of VASOGRADE as a Simple Grading Scale to Predict Delayed Cerebral Ischemia and Functional Outcome After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The VASOGRADE is a simple aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) grading scale that combines the modified Fisher scale (mFisher) and the World Federation of Neurological Societies (WFNS) grading system, allowing the stratification of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) risk. However, the VASOGRADE accuracy in predicting functional outcomes is still to be determined. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated a multiethnic cohort of consecutive patients with aSAH admitted to a high-volume center in Brazil from January 2016 to January 2019. Patients were classified according to the severity of the clinical presentation (WFNS), the amount of blood in the initial head computerized tomography (mFisher) scan, and the VASOGRADE (green, yellow, red). The primary outcome was to detect DCI-related cerebral infarction, and the secondary outcome was the functional outcome at hospital discharge according to the modified Rankin scale (mRs). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients (71.7% female, mean age 52.7 ± 12.8) were included. Sixty-nine patients were classified as VASOGRADE-Green (32.5%), 98 patients as VASOGRADE-Yellow (46.9%), and 45 patients as VASOGRADE-Red (20.6%). DCI-related infarction was present in 39 patients (18.9%). The proportions of patients in the VASOGRADE-Green, VASOGRADE-Yellow, and VASOGRADE-Red categories with DCI-related infarction were 7.7, 61.5, and 30.8%, respectively. After a multivariable analysis including age, sex, aneurysm location, and the VASOGRADE classification as variables, both VASOGRADE-Yellow and VASOGRADE-Red were independently associated with DCI-related infarction (odds ratio [OR] 7.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13-27.8, and OR 8.07, 95% CI 2.03-32.11, respectively) and unfavorable outcome (OR 4.16, 95% CI 1.33-13.03, and OR 25.57, 95% CI 4.45-147.1, respectively). The VASOGRADE discrimination performance for DCI-related infarction (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) was 0.67 ± 0.04 (95% CI 0.58-0.75; p = 0.001). VASOGRADE-Red had 97.5% specificity for predicting an unfavorable mRs score at discharge (95% CI 92.8-99.5%). Conversely, VASOGRADE-Green had an excellent specificity for predicting favorable outcome at discharge (mRs score 0-2, 95% CI 82.6-95.5%). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, in a multiethnic cohort of patients with aSAH, VASOGRADE-Green predicted the absence of DCI and good clinical outcome at discharge with very high specificity, and patients in this category might be selected for early intensive care unit (ICU) discharge, minimizing costs and medical complications associated with prolonged hospital stay. On the other hand, patients categorized as VASOGRADE-Yellow and VASOGRADE-Red were at the highest risk for DCI. They should, therefore, be selected as a priority for care in high-volume aSAH centers, being aggressively monitored for DCI at the ICU. Such stratification methods are crucial, especially in countries with low financial resources and high health care services demand.

Valproate-associated hyperammonemic encephalopathy in subarachnoid hemorrhage: a diagnosis to consider. / Encefalopatia hiperamonêmica associada ao valproato na hemorragia subaracnóidea: um diagnóstico a considerar.

OBJECTIVE: Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a prevalent disease with high morbidity and mortality. Numerous complications contribute to brain injury and defy the clinical practitioner on diagnosis and management. Valproate-associated hyperammonemic encephalopathy is a rare, underdiagnosed, serious and important entity to consider. We present a case of a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage who received anticonvulsant prophylaxis with valproate and developed neuroworsening associated with high levels of ammoniemia and periodic discharge electroencephalographic patterns without other identifiable causes. Discontinuing valproic acid treatment and normalization of ammoniemia resulted in improvement in clinical and electroencephalographic neurological status.

OBJETIVO: A hemorragia subaracnóidea é uma doença prevalente com alta morbidade e mortalidade. Inúmeras complicações contribuem para a lesão cerebral e desafiam o médico no diagnóstico e tratamento. A encefalopatia hiperamonêmica associada ao valproato é uma entidade rara, subdiagnosticada, grave e importante a ser considerada. Apresentamos o caso de um paciente com hemorragia subaracnóidea que recebeu profilaxia anticonvulsivante com valproato e evoluiu com piora neurológica associada a níveis plasmáticos elevados de amônia e descargas periódicas no eletroencefalograma, sem outras causas identificáveis. A interrupção do tratamento com ácido valproico e a normalização dos níveis plasmáticos de amônia resultaram em melhora do quadro neurológico e eletroencefalográfico.

Desfechos clínicos e funcionais de pacientes com hemorragia subaracnóidea aneurismática em UTI / Clinical and functional outcomes of patients with aneurysmatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in the ICU

INTRODUCTION: Rehabilitation has recently been discussed in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) caused by a ruptured aneurysm. OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical and functional outcomes of surviving and non-surviving patients with aneurysmal SAH in a neurosurgical ICU. METHODS: This is a retrospective documentary study. Medical records of patients with SAH admitted to the neurosurgical ICU of a teaching hospital between July 2014 and July 2019 were analyzed. Data were divided according to the outcomes into survivors group (SG) and non-survivors group (NG). RESULTS: 103 patients were analyzed, 72% female, mean age 55 years, 62% had high ICU outcome. The SG had significantly lower age, SAPS III score, Fisher and Hunt-Hess scales and time on mechanical ventilation (MV) than the NG, in addition, they had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), on admission and discharge from the ICU and length of hospital stay, significantly higher (p≤0.05) than NG. The SG showed significantly higher functionality (p≤0.05) than the NG on admission and a significant increase (p≤0.05) in functionality between admission and discharge from the ICU. CONCLUSION: Surviving patients with aneurysmal SAH had lower age, SAPS III score, neurological scales and time on MV, higher GCS scores at ICU admission and discharge, and longer hospital stay than non-survivors. Surviving patients had better functionality than non-survivors on admission, and, evolved with functional improvement from admission to discharge from the ICU.

INTRODUÇÃO: Recentemente tem sido discutido quanto à reabilitação em pacientes com hemorragia subaracnóidea (HSA) causada pelo rompimento de um aneurisma. OBJETIVO: Comparar desfechos clínicos e funcionais de pacientes com HSA aneurismática, sobreviventes e não sobreviventes em uma UTI neurocirúrgica. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo documental retrospectivo. Foram analisados prontuários de pacientes com HSA internados na UTI neurocirúrgica de um hospital escola, entre julho de 2014 e julho de 2019. Os dados foram divididos de acordo com os desfechos em grupo sobreviventes (GS) e grupo não sobreviventes (GN). RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 103 pacientes, 72% do sexo feminino, idade média de 55 anos, 62% apresentaram alta da UTI como desfecho. O GS apresentou idade, escore SAPS III, escalas de Fisher e Hunt-Hess e tempo de ventilação mecânica (VM) significativamente menores (p≤0,05) que o GN, além disso, apresentaram escala de coma de Glasgow (ECG), na admissão e na alta da UTI e tempo de internação hospitalar, significativamente maiores (p≤0,05) que o GN. O GS apresentou funcionalidade significativamente maior (p≤0,05) que o GN na admissão e incremento significativo (p≤0,05) da funcionalidade entre a admissão e alta da UTI. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com HSA aneurismática sobreviventes apresentaram menores idades, escore SAPS III, escalas neurológicas e tempo de VM, maiores escores de ECG, na admissão e na alta da UTI e maior tempo de internação hospitalar que os não sobreviventes. Os pacientes sobreviventes apresentaram melhor funcionalidade que os não sobreviventes na admissão, e, evoluíram com melhora funcional da admissão até a alta da UTI.

Waveform Morphology as a Surrogate for ICP Monitoring: A Comparison Between an Invasive and a Noninvasive Method.

BACKGROUND: Although the placement of an intraventricular catheter remains the gold standard technique for measuring intracranial pressure (ICP), the method has several limitations. Therefore, noninvasive alternatives to ICP (ICPni) measurement are of great interest. The main objective of this study was to compare the correlation and agreement of wave morphology between ICP (standard intraventricular ICP monitoring) and a new ICPni monitor in patients admitted with stroke. The second objective was to estimate the discrimination of the noninvasive method to detect intracranial hypertension. METHODS: We prospectively collected data of adults admitted to an intensive care unit with subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, or ischemic stroke in whom an invasive ICP monitor was placed. Measurements were simultaneously collected from two parameters [time-to-peak (TTP) and the ratio regarding the second and first peak of the ICP wave (P2/P1 ratio)] of ICP and ICPni wave morphology monitors (Brain4care). Intracranial hypertension was defined as an invasively measured sustained ICP > 20 mm Hg for at least 5 min. RESULTS: We studied 18 patients (subarachnoid hemorrhage = 14; intracerebral hemorrhage = 3; ischemic stroke = 1) on 60 occasions with a median age of 52 ± 14.3 years. A total of 197,400 waves (2495 min) from both ICP (standard ICP monitoring) and the ICPni monitor were sliced into 1-min-long segments, and we determined TTP and the P2/P1 ratio from the mean pulse. The median invasively measured ICP was 13 (9.8-16.2) mm Hg, and intracranial hypertension was present on 18 occasions (30%). The correlation and agreement between invasive and noninvasive methods for wave morphology were strong for the P2/P1 ratio and moderate for TTP using categoric (κ agreement 88.1% and 71.3%, respectively) and continuous (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.831 and 0.584, respectively) measures. There was a moderate but significant correlation with the mean ICP value (P2/P1 ratio r = 0.427; TTP r = 0.353; p < 0.001 for all) between noninvasive and invasive techniques. The areas under the curve to estimate intracranial hypertension were 0.786 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-0.93] for the P2/P1 ratio and 0.694 (95% CI 0.60-0.74) for TTP. CONCLUSIONS: The new ICPni wave morphology monitor showed a good agreement with the standard invasive method and an acceptable discriminatory power to detect intracranial hypertension. Clinical trial registration Trial registration: NCT05121155.

Cerebral aneurysms in pediatrics: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral aneurysms in pediatrics represent < 4% of the total of this condition, and their rupture represents 10-23% mortality. Aneurysms have been associated with infections, head injuries, sickle cell anemia, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, and connective tissue diseases. Their clinical presentation includes severe headache, seizures, motor-sensory deficits, and death due to subarachnoid and intraparenchymal hemorrhage. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 12-year-old female patient who presented with a sudden intense headache; after 72 hours, generalized tonic-clonic seizures were observed. At the hospital, she was stabilized with antiepileptic drugs and analgesics. A simple head computed tomography scan showed intraparenchymal hemorrhage in the right frontal lobe and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The study was complemented with a cerebral angiotomography, which revealed an aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery. The pediatric neurosurgeon evaluated the case, and management in the pediatric intensive care unit was decided. Two weeks after the stroke, the aneurysm was clipped and excluded. The patient developed adequate clinical evolution and resolution of initial symptoms, resuming her daily activities. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric cerebral aneurysms differ from their adult counterparts, mainly in their etiology and evolution. In addition, pediatric patients have a longer life expectancy. Aneurysm clipping and neurological endovascular therapy have shown similar results.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los aneurismas cerebrales en pediatría representan menos del 4% del total de estos padecimientos, aunque su rotura tiene una mortalidad del 10-23%. Se han asociado con infecciones, traumatismos craneoencefálicos, anemia de células falciformes, enfermedades cardiovasculares, enfermedades autoinmunitarias, inmunodeficiencias y enfermedades del tejido conectivo. Su presentación clínica se manifiesta con cefalea intensa, crisis convulsivas, déficit motor-sensitivo y muerte debida a la hemorragia subaracnoidea e intraparenquimatosa. CASO CLÍNICO: Se describe el caso de una paciente de 12 años que presentó cefalea súbita intensa; a las 72 horas se agregaron crisis convulsivas tónico-clónicas generalizadas. En el hospital se estabilizó con fármacos antiepilépticos y analgésicos. Se le realizó una tomografía de cráneo simple que evidenció hemorragia intraparenquimatosa en el lóbulo frontal derecho y hemorragia subaracnoidea. El estudio se complementó con una angiotomografía cerebral, la cual reveló un aneurisma de la arteria comunicante anterior. Fue valorada por el neurocirujano pediatra y se decidió su manejo en la unidad de terapia intensiva pediátrica. A las 2 semanas de iniciado el evento se realizó clipaje y exclusión del aneurisma. La paciente tuvo una adecuada evolución clínica y resolución de los síntomas iniciales, retomando sus actividades de la vida diaria. CONCLUSIONES: Los aneurismas cerebrales en pediatría difieren de su contraparte en los adultos, principalmente en su etiología y evolución, ya que los pacientes pediátricos tienen mayor expectativa de vida. El clipaje del aneurisma y la terapia endovascular neurológica han mostrado resultados similares.

Is neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio a useful tool for predicting outcome in subarachnoid hemorrhage? A systematic review.

Ruptured intracranial aneurysms, as the leading cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), represents an emergency with high morbi-mortality. The comprehension of the underlying pathology that involves inflammatory and immune responses, through the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), could help to predict complications such as delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) or rebleeding and the functional outcome. Systematic review of English-based literature through PubMed and Biblioteca Vitural em Saúde (BVS) to find papers discussing the use of NLR in the aSAH setting. Area-under-curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics (ROC), cutoff value, sensitivity, and specificity were retrieved. From 53 articles included, 4 papers were evaluated after exclusion criteria. Rebleeding could be predicted with a NLR cutoff value of 9.88 (sensitivity 72.3%, specificity 63.3%). The mean cutoff value for DCI was 12.85, with sensitivity 66.3% and specificity 75.8%. Finally, a worse 3-month functional outcome could be predicted with a mean sensitivity of 73.3% and a mean specificity of 54%. NLR is a new issue in scientific community, especially neurosurgery. The current understanding points to a multifactorial process after aSAH that emerges as alterations on the NLR. As a measurement readily available and cost-effect after admission of the patient, its use signals that patients that need expedite surgical treatment or more aggressive treatment for vasospasm. As other medical subspecialties already use this ratio to predict outcomes, the literature reviewed by this paper constitute the earliest clues that higher NLR predicts re-bleeding, DCI, and functional outcome.

Cefaleia sentinela: um quadro presente, mas pouco lembrad / Sentinel headache: present, but poorly remembered

Esta revisão narrativa da literatura tratou da cefaleia sentinela. A cefaleia é um acometimento de alta prevalência mundial, sobretudo em mulheres. São várias as condições que podem levar à sua ocorrência, destacando-se, entre elas, a hemorragia subaracnóidea, que é sabidamente a terceira maior causa de acidente vascular encefálico. No âmbito da hemorragia subaracnóidea, existe um sintoma que, por vezes, é ignorado na investigação clÍnica do acidente vascular encefálico: é a cefaleia sentinela. Ela é conceituada como sendo cefaleia súbita, não usual, do tipo explosiva, persistente e de menor intensidade que a dor de cabeça da hemorragia subaracnóidea. Geralmente precede a hemorragia subaracnóidea por dias ou semanas. Este manuscrito traz uma revisão narrativa da literatura sobre cefaleia sentinela, usando as bases de dados PubMed® e Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde. A prevalência dessa condição é de 10% a 43% na hemorragia subaracnóidea, podendo ser fator preditor na identificação precoce do paciente com risco para sangramento aneurismático. Torna-se, então, necessária tanto a educação médica como a atuação precisa acerca do tema, a fim de mudar os desfechos da hemorragia subaracnóidea.

This narrative review of the literature addressed the sentinel headache. headaches are of high prevalence worldwide, especially in women. Several conditions can lead to its occurrence, such as the subarachnoid hemorrhage (known to be the third main cause of stroke). In the context of subarachnoid hemorrhage, there is a symptom that is sometimes overlooked in the clinical investigation of stroke: the sentinel headache. It is conceptualized as sudden, unusual, of explosive nature, persistent and of lesser intensity than the subarachnoid hemorrhage headache. It usually precedes the subarachnoid hemorrhage by days or weeks. This study provides a narrative review of the literature on sentinel headache, using the PubMed® and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature databases. The prevalence of this condition in subarachnoid hemorrhage is 10 - 43%, and may be a predictive factor in the early identification of the patient with risk for aneurysmal bleeding. Both medical education and accurate action on this issue are necessary to change the outcomes of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Prognosis of Patients Victim of Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Comparison between Radiologic Scales

Objective To analyze the population and the earlymortality rate (up to thirty days) of patients victim of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) according to the Hunt-Hess clinical scale and the Fisher and modified Fisher radiological scales. Materials and Methods We analyzed 46 medical records and skull computed tomography (CT) scans of patients with spontaneous SAH admitted between February 2014 and December 2017 at Hospital Universitário Evangélico Mackenzie, in the city of Curitiba, state of Paraná, Brazil. The method of the study was exploratorydescriptive, transversal and retrospective, with a quantitative approach. We analyzed epidemiological (gender, age), clinical (life habits, pathologies, Glasgow coma scale and Hunt-Hess scale) and radiological (Fisher and modified Fisher scales) variables, and the Hunt-Hess and the Fisher scales were correlated with risk of death. The data was submitted to statistical analysis considering values of p<0.05. Result There was a higher prevalence of spontaneous SAH among women (69.5%), as well as among patients aged between 51 and 60 years (34.7%). Regarding the grades on the scales, there was higher prevalence of Fisher 4, Modified Fisher 4 and Hunt-Hess 2. Evolution to death was higher among women (76.4%) and patients aged between 61 and 70 years (35,2%). Conclusion Mortality was higher among patients classified as Fisher 3, Modified Fisher 4 and Hunt-Hess > 3. The Fisher scale is better than the modified Fisher scale to assess the risk of mortality.

Subarachnoid Mirage: A Case of Pseudosubarachnoid Hemorrhage.

A 22-year-old man with a history of intravenous methamphetamine use presented with severe headache for 5 days, was afebrile, and had nuchal rigidity. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging results were interpreted as revealing acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. Twenty-four hours later, he developed acute neurologic deterioration. A lumbar puncture was performed, revealing the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. The false-positive image mimicking blood was potentially a result of an extremely high protein concentration present in the cerebrospinal fluid, provoked by an intense inflammatory reaction leading to disruption of the blood-brain barrier. Pyogenic meningitis is one of the causes of pseudosubarachnoid hemorrhage, or a false diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage, when one does not actually exist.

Hemorragia intramedular y hemorragia subaracnoidea occipital concurrente. presentación de un caso / Hemorragia intramedular e hemorragia subaracnóidea occipital concomitante. apresentação de caso / Intramedullary hemorrhage and concurrent occipital subarachnoid hemorrhage. Case presentation

Se presentó una paciente de 62 años, con antecedente de hipertensión arterial sistémica e infarto cerebral. Acudió al cuerpo de guardia porque 24 horas después de un esfuerzo físico intenso presentó cefalea y dolor cervical intenso, vómitos no precedidos de náuseas y pérdida de la conciencia y al despertar no podía mover las piernas. El examen físico reveló signos meníngeos, paraplejia flácida, perdida de la sensibilidad táctil, térmica y dolorosa hasta el nivel de la segunda costilla y del tono de los esfínteres vesical y anal. La tomografía axial computarizada de cráneo mostró la presencia de hemorragia subaracnoidea occipital bilateral Fisher 3 y la resonancia magnética de columna dorsal contrastada reveló una hemorragia intramedular subaguda tardía. Se pondera la relevancia de la anamnesis, el examen físico y de los medios diagnósticos, sobre todo de la resonancia magnética para el diagnóstico clínico de hemorragia intramedular(AU)

A 62-year-old patient was presented, with a history of systemic arterial hypertension and cerebral infarction. He went to the guard because 24 hours after intense physical exertion, he had headache and severe cervical pain, vomiting not preceded by nausea and loss of consciousness and when he woke up he could not move his legs. The physical examination revealed meningeal signs, flaccid paraplegia, loss of tactile, thermal and painful sensitivity to the level of the second rib and the tone of the bladder and anal sphincters. Computed axial tomography of the skull showed the presence of Fisher 3 bilateral occipital subarachnoid hemorrhage and the contrasted dorsal spine magnetic resonance revealed late subacute intramedullary hemorrhage. The relevance of the history, physical examination and diagnostic means, especially magnetic resonance imaging for the clinical diagnosis of intramedullary hemorrhage, is considered(AU)

Apresentou-se um paciente de 62 anos de idade, com história de hipertensão arterial sistêmica e infarto cerebral. Ele foi para a guarda porque, 24 horas após intenso esforço físico, estava com dor de cabeça e forte dor cervical, vômito não precedido de náusea e perda de consciência e, quando acordou, não conseguiu mexer as pernas. O exame físico revelou sinais meníngeos, paraplegia flácida, perda de sensibilidade tátil, térmica e dolorosa ao nível da segunda costela e ao tom da bexiga e dos esfíncteres anais. A tomografia axial computadorizada do crânio mostrou a presença de hemorragia subaracnóidea occipital bilateral de Fisher 3 e a ressonância magnética contrastada da coluna dorsal revelou hemorragia intramedular subaguda tardia. Considera-se a relevância da história, exame físico e meios de diagnóstico, especialmente ressonância magnética para o diagnóstico clínico de hemorragia intramedular(AU)

Transoceanic Management and Treatment of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A 10-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Because of the small number of yearly cases of ruptured cerebral aneurysms, endovascular treatment is not performed in Martinique. Therefore, patients from Martinique are sent 7000 km to Paris on commercial flights as soon as possible, where treatment is performed. Nontransportable patients are treated locally with either surgery or symptomatic care. The objective of our study was to assess patient outcomes and safety of this treatment strategy. METHODS: We retrospectively examined all cases of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Martinique diagnosed during 2004 to 2013. Medical case records were searched for the type and location of treatment, clinical status, and transfer duration. RESULTS: A total of 119 patients had an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage during the 10-year period. Of these, 91 were transferred to Paris, 12 were surgically treated locally, and 16 received symptomatic treatment. None of the transferred patients experienced any hemorrhagic recurrence, and none suffered a significant complication related to the air transportation. The median time between aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosis and arrival at the referral center was 32 hours. The 30-day case fatality rate for treated cases was 14.6% (8.8% for those treated in Paris and 58.3% for those treated locally). CONCLUSIONS: Our treatment strategy for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage resulted in a 30-day case fatality rate similar to those observed elsewhere, despite an 8-hour flight and a median treatment delay of 32 hours. This strategy therefore seems to be safe and reliable for isolated regions with small populations.

Terapia endovascular y hemorragia subaracnoidea: experiencia en el Hospital Central de Maracay / Endovascular therapy and subarachnoid hemorrhage: experience in the Hospital Central of Maracay

La ruptura aneurismática es la causa más frecuente de hemorragia subaracnoidea y la embolización endovascular es un procedimiento neuroradiológico eficiente que minimiza la posibilidad de una nueva ruptura y sangrado a corto y largo plazo. Investigación de casos, descriptiva, retrospectiva, sin experimentación, de 78 historias clínicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de hemorragia subaracnoidea tratados en el servicio de medicina interna del Hospital Central de Maracay en el período enero 2011 – junio 2012. Predominó el género femenino, provenientes en su mayoría del centro del país, la edad promedio fue de 49 años, el mayor porcentaje recibió tratamiento electivo, con una estancia hospitalaria menor de 3 días. Las arterias afectadas pertenecieron especialmente al circuito anterior del Polígono de Willis. No se reportaron complicaciones fatales. La embolización es un instrumento terapéutico altamente eficaz, con pocas complicaciones perioperatorias y estancia hospitalaria corta.

Aneurysmal rupture is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Embolization is an efficient neuroradiological procedure that minimizes the possibility of a new rupture and bleeding. This is a descriptive case review, retrospective, not experimental, of the medical records of 78 patients with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage treated at the department of internal medicine of the Hospital Central Maracay, Venezuela from January 2011 to June 2012. Female gender predominated, the average age was 49 years; the highest percentage received elective treatment, with a hospital stay of less than 3 days. The affected arteries were mostly from the anterior circuit of Willis poligon. There were no fatal complications. Embolization is a highly effective therapeutic instrument, with few complications and shorter hospital stay.