Cerebral Vasospasm After Burr Hole Evacuation of Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

Cerebral vasospasm is a frequent complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage. We report a case of chronic subdural hematoma complicated by cerebral vasospasm after burr hole evacuation. A 74-year-old woman underwent burr hole evacuation of a chronic subdural hematoma. She developed left hemiparesis and disturbance of consciousness on postoperative day 3. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a right parietal infarct and decreased cerebral blood flow signal in the right middle cerebral artery territory. Digital subtraction angiography showed multiple segmental narrowings of the right middle cerebral artery. Her neurological symptoms recovered with conservative treatment. Follow-up angiography showed improvement in the arterial narrowing, which finally led to a diagnosis of cerebral vasospasm. Cerebral vasospasm can occur after burr hole evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma. Magnetic resonance angiography is useful for determining the cause of postoperative neurological worsening in chronic subdural hematoma patients.

Transcranial Ultrasound in the Neurocritical Care Unit.

Ultrasound evaluation of the brain is performed through acoustic windows. Transcranial Doppler has long been used to monitor patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage for cerebral vasospasm. Transcranial color-coded sonography permits parenchymal B-mode imaging and duplex evaluation. Transcranial ultrasound may also be used to assess the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia, screen patients for the presence of elevated intracranial pressure, confirm the diagnosis of brain death, measure midline shift, and detect ventriculomegaly. Transcranial ultrasound should be integrated with other point-of-care ultrasound techniques as an essential skill for the neurointensivist.

Systemic tolerance of intravenous milrinone administration for cerebral vasospasm secondary to non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a severe subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) complication, closely related to cerebral vasospasm (CVS). CVS treatment frequently comprises intravenous milrinone, an inotropic and vasodilatory drug. Our objective is to describe milrinone's hemodynamic, respiratory and renal effects when administrated as treatment for CVS. METHODS: Retrospective single-center observational study of patients receiving intravenous milrinone for CVS with systemic hemodynamics, oxygenation, renal disorders monitoring. We described these parameters' evolution before and after milrinone initiation (day - 1, baseline, day 1 and day 2), studied treatment cessation causes and assessed neurological outcome at 3-6 months. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were included. Milrinone initiation led to cardiac output increase (4.5 L/min [3.4-5.2] at baseline vs 6.6 L/min [5.2-7.7] at day 2, p < 0.001), Mean Arterial Pressure decrease (101 mmHg [94-110] at baseline vs 95 mmHg [85-102] at day 2, p = 0.001) norepinephrine treatment requirement increase (32% of patients before milrinone start vs 58% at day 1, p = 0.002) and slight PaO2/FiO2 ratio deterioration (401 [333-406] at baseline vs 348 [307-357] at day 2, p = 0.016). Milrinone was interrupted in 8% of patients. 55% had a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Intravenous milrinone for CVS treatment seems associated with significant impact on systemic hemodynamics leading sometimes to treatment discontinuation.

Safety and efficacy of magnesium-rich artificial cerebrospinal fluid for subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of using a newly formulated magnesium-rich artificial cerebrospinal fluid (MACSF) as an alternative to normal saline (NS) for intraoperative irrigation during aneurysm clipping in improving the prognosis of patients with Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Methods: Patients with aSAH who underwent intraoperative irrigation with MACSF or NS during the clipping in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi 'an Jiaotong University from March 2019 to March 2022 were selected as MACSF group and NS group, respectively. The primary prognostic indicators were the incidence of favorable outcomes (mRS 0-2). The secondary outcome measures included cerebral vasospasm (CVS), mortality, total hospital stay, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Safety was evaluated based on the occurrence rates of hypermagnesemia, meningitis, and hydrocephalus. Results: Overall, 34 and 37 patients were enrolled in the MACSF and NS groups, respectively. At 90 days after aSAH onset, the proportion of favorable prognosis in the MACSF group was significantly higher than that in the NS group (p = 0.035). The incidence of CVS within 14 days after surgery was significantly lower in the MACSF group than that in the NS group (p = 0.026). The mortality rate in the MACSF group was significantly lower than in the NS group (p = 0.048). The median lengths of hospital stay (p = 0.008) and ICU stay (p = 0.018) were significantly shorter in the MACSF group than in the NS group. No significant differences were observed in safety measures. Conclusion: Using MACSF as an irrigation fluid for aneurysm clipping can significantly improve the 90-day prognosis of patients with aSAH, which may be related to the reduced incidence of CVS. Clinical trial registration: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04358445.

Differential DNA methylation associated with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review.

Recent studies suggest that differential DNA methylation could play a role in the mechanism of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Considering the significance of this matter and a lack of effective prophylaxis against DCI, we aim to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding their associations with DNA methylation and identify the gaps for a future trial. PubMed MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched by two authors in three waves for relevant DNA methylation association studies in DCI after aSAH. PRISMA checklist was followed for a systematic structure. STROBE statement was used to assess the quality and risk of bias within studies. This research was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (grant number 2021/41/N/NZ2/00844). Of 70 records, 7 peer-reviewed articles met the eligibility criteria. Five studies used a candidate gene approach, three were epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS), one utilized bioinformatics of the previous EWAS, with two studies using more than one approach. Methylation status of four cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpGs) related to four distinct genes (ITPR3, HAMP, INSR, CDHR5) have been found significantly or suggestively associated with DCI after aSAH. Analysis of epigenetic clocks yielded significant association of lower age acceleration with radiological CVS but not with DCI. Hub genes for hypermethylation (VHL, KIF3A, KIFAP3, RACGAP1, OPRM1) and hypomethylation (ALB, IL5) in DCI have been indicated through bioinformatics analysis. As none of the CpGs overlapped across the studies, meta-analysis was not applicable. The identified methylation sites might potentially serve as a biomarker for early diagnosis of DCI after aSAH in future. However, a lack of overlapping results prompts the need for large-scale multicenter studies. Challenges and prospects are discussed.

Double whammy: Delayed cerebral ischemia of a 19-year-old secondary to sinogenic complications from an uncommon bacterial sinusitis, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum.

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, found as normal flora in healthy individuals, is an unusual culprit for pharyngitis and sinusitis in young adults, rarely leading to severe infections. Here, we present a singular case involving a 19-year-old immunocompetent male who experienced complications arising from A haemolyticum sinusitis, leading to orbital and intracranial sinogenic complications. The patient developed severe cerebral vasospasm with delayed cerebral ischemia, necessitating aggressive management encompassing daily catheter-directed intra-arterial infusions, surgical source control, and maximal medical therapy. This case explores the challenging diagnostic and management aspects associated with cerebral artery vasospasm secondary to bacterial meningoencephalitis. The abrupt neurological decline in such patients presents a dilemma in recognizing the occurrence of cerebral vasospasm versus the progression of meningoencephalitis. By utilizing computed tomography brain perfusion scans, we were able to identify delayed cerebral ischemia due to cerebral vasospasm, acknowledging that this modality was not used to identify classical territorial stroke infarcts. This decision was made based on the understanding of the potential for bacterial-induced cerebral vasospasm to involve both hemispheres.

Is Stent Retraction to ReLieve Arterial Cerebral VaSospasm Caused by SAH (Stent-ReLACSS) Using PRELAX the Long-awaited Solution for Treatment of Posthemorrhagic Cerebral Vasospasm? : Treatment of Posthemorrhagic Cerebral Vasospasm with PRESET and PRELAX: Technical Aspects, Efficacy, and Safety Margins in a Case Series.

PURPOSE: Recent observational studies have indicated the efficacy of stent retriever devices for the treatment of posthemorrhagic cerebral vasospasm (CVS), both by deployment and on-site withdrawal into the microcatheter (stent angioplasty, SA) and deployment followed by retraction through the target vessel similar to thrombectomy (Stent Retraction to reLieve Arterial Cerebral vaSospasm caused by SAH, Stent-ReLACSS). This article reports the findings with each application of pRESET and pRELAX in the treatment of CVS. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 25 patients with severe CVS following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. For the SA group, a stent retriever or a pRELAX was temporarily deployed into a narrow vessel segment and retrieved into the microcatheter after 3 min. For the Stent-ReLACSS group, a pRELAX was temporarily deployed into a narrow vessel and pulled back unfolded into the internal carotid artery. If intra-arterial vasodilators were administered, they were given exclusively after mechanical vasospasmolysis to maximize the effectiveness of the stent treatment. RESULTS: In this study fifteen patients and 49 vessels were treated with SA. All were technically successful without periprocedural complications; however, 8/15 patients (53.3%) required additional treatment of the CVS. A total of 10 patients and 23 vessel segments were treated with Stent-ReLACSS. All maneuvers were technically successful without periprocedural complications and all vessels showed significant angiographic improvement. No recurrent CVS requiring further endovascular treatment occurred in-hospital, and neither territorial ischemia in the treated vessels nor vascular injury were observed in follow-up angiography. CONCLUSION: Based on the presented data it appears that Stent-ReLACSS with pRELAX does not pose any additional risks when used to treat CVS and might be superior to SA, especially concerning mid-term and long-term efficacy. The mechanism of action may be an effect on the endothelium rather than mechanical vasodilation. As many patients with CVS are diagnosed too late, prophylactic treatment of high-risk patients (e.g., poor grade, young, female) is potentially viable.

Cerebral Infarction Due to Post-traumatic Cerebral Vasospasm in a 12-Year-Old Female.

Cerebral infarction due to post-traumatic cerebral vasospasm is rare. Although some modalities are recommended to detect post-traumatic cerebral vasospasm, its diagnosis remains controversial and challenging. Therefore, in this report, we will use a case report to highlight challenges and to delineate the characteristics of post-traumatic cerebral vasospasm in pediatric patients, including the diagnostic and treatment options. A 12-year-old female was admitted to our hospital following a motor vehicle collision. Her consciousness was severely impaired. Initial computed tomography (CT) revealed an acute subdural hematoma along the tentorium, and a focal subarachnoid hemorrhage was observed in the Sylvian fissure. The patient underwent the insertion of an intracranial pressure sensor and received therapy for increased intracranial pressure (ICP) control under sedation. On the second day, CT angiography (CTA) revealed no signs of arterial abnormality. A patient who is comatose or under sedation has masked neurological symptoms. Thus, new neurological events could only be detected via an intracranial pressure sensor. Her ICP increased on the seventh day, and a CT scan showed a new cerebral infarction in the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) region. We performed decompressive craniectomy to reduce ICP. Postoperative CTA confirmed severe vasospasm in the right MCA. The severe cerebral vasospasm induced the cerebral infarction. Our review suggests that physicians in trauma departments should frequently perform vascular evaluations by CTA, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), transcranial Doppler ultrasound, or digital subtraction angiography (DSA), especially within two weeks from onset, to detect post-traumatic cerebral vasospasm.

Early Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate and Its Impact on Cerebral Vasospasm as well as Delayed Cerebral Ischemia in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Matched Case-Control Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is a potential neuroprotective agent for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We analyzed the effect of early application of intraoperative intravenous MgSO4 and compared cerebral vasospasm (CV), delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and neurological outcome in 2 patient cohorts. METHODS: A retrospective matched-pair analysis from patients at a single center in Germany was performed without (group A) and with (group B) MgSO4 application <24 hours after diagnosis. Pairs were matched according to the known risk factors for DCI and CV (age, Fisher grade, smoking, severity of SAH). Incidence of CV and DCI and neurological outcome using the modified Rankin Scale score 3 and 12 months after SAH were recorded. RESULTS: The inclusion criteria were met by 196 patients. After risk stratification, 48 patients were included in the final analysis (age 54.2 ± 8.1 years; 30 women and 18 men) and were assigned to group A (n = 24) or group B (n = 24). CV occurred less frequently in group B (33%) than in group A (46%). Likewise, DCI was present in 13% in group B compared with 42% in group A. After 12 months, 22 patients in group B had a favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-3) compared with 15 patients in group A. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the incidence of CV and DCI was lower in patients receiving intravenous MgSO4 within 24 hours after aneurysmal SAH onset. Favorable functional outcome was more likely in the MgSO4 group after 12 months of follow-up.

A nomogram for predicting the risk of cerebral vasospasm after neurosurgical clipping in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Purpose: Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is a common complication that occurs after neurosurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms in patients with aSAH. This complication can lead to clinical deterioration and a poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to explore the risk factors for CVS in aSAH patients who have undergone neurosurgical clipping, develop a nomogram for CVS, and evaluate its performance. Methods: Patients with aSAH who underwent neurosurgical clipping in the Department of Neurosurgery from January 2018 to January 2023 were selected as the subjects of this research. The clinical data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Logistic multivariate regression analysis was employed to identify the independent risk factors of CVS. A clinical prediction model in the form of a nomogram for CVS was developed using the R programming language and subsequently evaluated for its performance and quality. Results: A total of 156 patients with aSAH were included in the analysis, comprising 109 patients in the training set and 47 patients in the validation set. In the training cohort, 27 patients (24.77%) developed CVS after neurosurgical clipping, while in the validation cohort, 15 patients (31.91%) experienced CVS. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that age, Hcy, WBC, glucose/potassium ratio, aneurysm location, and modified Fisher grade were independent risk factors for CVS. The nomogram exhibited excellent discriminative performance in both the training set (AUC = 0.885) and the validation set (AUC = 0.906). Conclusion: CVS was a prevalent complication following neurosurgical clipping in patients with aSAH, with a highly intricate pathogenesis and pathophysiological course. Early prediction of CVS represented a significant challenge in clinical practice. In this study, age, Hcy, WBC, glucose/potassium ratio, aneurysm location, and modified Fisher grade emerged as independent risk factors for CVS. The resulting nomogram demonstrated substantial predictive value.

Cisternal nicardipine for prevention of delayed cerebral ischemia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a comparative retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Intrathecal vasoactive drugs have been proposed in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) to manage cerebral vasospasm (CV). We analyzed the efficacy of intracisternal nicardipine compared to intraventricular administration to a control group (CG) to determine its impact on delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and functional outcomes. Secondary outcomes included the need for intra-arterial angioplasties and the safety profile. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all adult patients admitted for a high modified Fisher grade aSAH between January 2015 and April 2022. All patients with significant radiological CV were included. Three groups of patients were defined based on the CV management: cisternal nicardipine (CN), ventricular nicardipine (VN), and no intrathecal nicardipine (control group). RESULTS: Seventy patients met the inclusion criteria. Eleven patients received intracisternal nicardipine, 18 intraventricular nicardipine, and 41 belonged to the control group. No cases of DCI were observed in the CN group (p = 0.02). Patients with intracisternal nicardipine had a reduced number of intra-arterial angioplasties when compared to the control group (p = 0.03). The safety profile analysis showed no difference in complications across the three groups. Intrathecal (ventricular or cisternal) nicardipine therapy improved functional outcomes at 6 months (p = 0.04) when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Administration of intrathecal nicardipine for moderate to severe CV reduces the rate of DCI and improved long-term functional outcomes in patients with high modified Fisher grade aSAH. This study also showed a relative benefit of cisternal over intraventricular nicardipine, thereby reducing the number of angioplasties performed in the post-treatment phase. However, these preliminary results should be confirmed with future prospective studies.

CLR (C-Reactive Protein to Lymphocyte Ratio) Served as a Promising Predictive Biomarker for Cerebral Vasospasm in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH): A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a devastating disease. Even after state-of-the-art treatment patients suffer from complications, including cerebral vasospasm (CVS), delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and chronic hydrocephalus (CH) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The aim of our study is to identify the predictive value of the C-reactive protein to lymphocyte ratio (CLR) for neurological functional outcome and complications after aSAH. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 166 aSAH patients who met the inclusion criteria enrolled in our study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the independent risk factors. The predictive value of different models was compared by calculating the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: On-admission levels of CLR in patients with poor outcomes (6 months mRS 3-6), CVS, DCI, and CH were significantly higher than those in patients with good outcomes (6 months mRS 0-2), non-CVS, non-DCI, and non-CH. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that admission CLR was independently associated with CVS (OR [95% CI] 2.116 [1.507-2.971]; p < 0.001), and DCI (OR [95% CI] 1.594 [1.220-2.084]; p = 0.001). In ROC analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) of CLR for poor outcomes (6 months mRS 3-6), CVS, DCI, and CH prediction were (AUC [95% CI] 0.639 [0.555-0.724]; p = 0.002), (AUC [95% CI] 0.834 [0.767-0.901]; p < 0.001), (AUC [95% CI] 0.679 [0.581-0.777]; p < 0.001), and (AUC [95% CI] 0.628 [0.543-0.713]; p = 0.005) revealing that admission CLR had a favorable predictive value for CVS after aSAH. The sensitivity and specificity of admission CLR for CVS prediction were 77.1% and 75.4%. On-admission CLR of 0.757 mg × 10-6 was identified as the best cutoff threshold to discriminate between CVS and non-CVS (CVS: CLR < 0.757 mg × 10-6 11/100 [11.0%] vs. CLR ≥ 0.757 mg × 10-6 37/66 [56.1%]; p < 0.001). Conclusions: High levels of on-admission CLR serve as an independent risk factor for CVS and DCI after aSAH. Admission CLR is an easy-to-quantify laboratory parameter that efficiently predicts the CVS after aSAH, which can provide some guidance for clinicians to evaluate for possible progression and treatment strategies in patients with aSAH.

Delayed symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following vestibular schwannoma resection: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following posterior fossa extraaxial tumor resection is a rare phenomenon, with only 13 cases previously reported in the literature. The condition appears similar to vasospasm following supratentorial tumor resection, intraaxial posterior fossa tumor resection, and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The majority of patients were not evaluated for vasospasm prior to symptom onset, leading to a delay in diagnosis. OBSERVATIONS: The authors present their experience in a 56-year-old female who developed delayed cerebral vasospasm after excision of a solid-cystic vestibular schwannoma. Routine postoperative brain computed tomography showed evidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the basal cisterns. She was discharged on the 9th postoperative day. On the 11th day after tumor excision, she developed left hemiparesis, dysarthria, and dysphagia and was readmitted. Angiography confirmed bilateral diffuse cerebral vasospasm. The patient responded to standard hyperdynamic therapy used for vasospasm secondary to aSAH. LESSONS: Symptomatic distant cerebral vasospasm after posterior fossa extraaxial tumor excision is a rare but challenging complication with a very high morbidity rate in reported cases. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and prompt management for a favorable outcome.

Risks of nimodipine dose reduction during the high-risk period for delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Nimodipine dose reduction is recommended in case of high vasopressor demand after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The aim of this study was to assess potential adverse effects of nimodipine reduction during the high-risk period for delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and cerebral vasospasm (CVS) between days 5 and 10 after hemorrhage. Demographic and clinical data as well as daily nimodipine dose of aSAH patients admitted between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with DCI, angiographic CVS, DCI-related infarction, and unfavorable outcome. A total of 205 patients were included. Nimodipine dose reduction occurred in 108 (53%) patients ('nimodipine reduction group'), while 97 patients (47%) received the full dose ('no nimodipine reduction group'), Patients in the 'nimodipine reduction group' had significant worse WFNS and Fisher grades and developed significantly more often DCI and angiographic CVS. DCI-related infarction and unfavorable outcome were also significantly increased in the 'nimodipine reduction group.' 'Reduced nimodipine dose' was the only independent predictor for the occurrence of DCI and angiographic CVS in multivariable regression analysis. 'Poor WFNS grade' and 'reduced nimodipine dose' were identified as independent risk factors for DCI-related infarction while 'older age,' 'poor WFNS grade,' and 'reduced nimodipine dose' were associated with unfavorable outcome at 3 months after discharge. Nimodipine dose reduction during the high-risk period of DCI and CVS between days 5 and 10 after hemorrhage might abrogate the positive prognostic effects of nimodipine and should be critically evaluated.

Intracranial dynamics biomarkers at traumatic cerebral vasospasm.

Introduction: Patients who suffer severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and cerebral vasospasm (CVS) frequently have posttraumatic cerebral ischemia (PCI). The research question: was to study changes in cerebral microcirculatory bed parameters in sTBI patients with CVS and with or without PCI. Material and methods: A total of 136 severe TBI patients were recruited in the study. All patients underwent perfusion computed tomography, intracranial pressure monitoring, and transcranial Doppler. The levels of cerebrovascular resistance (CVR), cerebral arterial compliance (CAC), cerebrovascular time constant (CTC), and critical closing pressure (CCP) were measured using the neuromonitoring complex. Statistical analysis was performed using parametric and nonparametric methods and factor analysis. The patients were dichotomized into PCI-positive (n = 114) and PCI-negative (n = 22) groups. Data are presented as mean values (standard deviations). Results: CVR was significantly increased, whereas CAC, CTC, and CCP were significantly decreased in sTBI patients with CVS and PCI development (p < 0.05). Factor analyses revealed that all studied microcirculatory bed parameters were significantly associated with the development of PCI (p < 0.05). Discussion and conclusion: The changes in all studied microcirculatory bed parameters in TBI patients with CVS were significantly associated with PCI development, which enables us to regard them as the biomarkers of CVS and PCI development. The causes of the described microcirculatory bed parameters changes might include complex (cytotoxic and vasogenic) brain edema development, regional microvascular spasm, and dysfunction of pericytes. A further prospective study is warranted.

Evolving frontiers: endovascular strategies for the treatment of delayed cerebral ischemia.

Cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia represent a very challenging aspect of cerebrovascular pathophysiology, most commonly subarachnoid hemorrhage, with significantly high mortality if left untreated. Considerable advances have been made in medical treatment and prompt diagnosis, while newer endovascular modalities have recently been proposed for cases of resistant cerebral vasospasm. However, there is still paucity of data regarding which and whether a single endovascular technique is non inferior to the pharmacological standard of care. In this review, we aim to summarize the current funds of knowledge concerning cerebral vasospasm and the emerging role of the endovascular techniques for its treatment.

Cardiopulmonary Events of the Elderly (≥75 Years) during Clazosentan Therapy after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Stroke Center in Japan.

Clazosentan has been shown to prevent vasospasm and reduce mortality in patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and has been approved for clinical use in Japan; however, its systemic events in the elderly (aged ≥ 75 years) have not been well-documented. Here, we report serious/intolerable cardiopulmonary complications requiring discontinuation of drug therapy in elderly SAH patients. In this single-center case series study, medical records of consecutive SAH patients treated postoperatively with clazosentan (10 mg/h) between June 2022 and May 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-three patients received clazosentan therapy, of whom six were elderly with a mean age of 80.3 ± 5.2 (range 75-89) years. Among them, despite no obvious medical history of systemic abnormalities, clazosentan was discontinued in three (50%) patients due to pleural effusion and hypoxemia with or without hypotension at 5 ± 3 days after therapy initiation, which was higher than the incidence for younger patients (15%). The elderly patients had significantly lower urine output (1935 ± 265 vs. 1123 ± 371 mL/day, p = 0.03) and greater weight gain (2.1 ± 1.1 vs. 4.2 ± 1.9 kg from baseline, p = 0.04) than patients who completed the therapy. One 89-year-old female developed congestive heart failure and hydrostatic pulmonary edema associated with increased intravascular and lung volumes even after therapy was discontinued, while the remaining two cases recovered within 2 days after drug cessation. These results suggest that elderly patients are more vulnerable to fluid retention and have a higher risk of cardiopulmonary complications during clazosentan therapy than younger patients. Careful monitoring of urine volume and weight gain and caution regarding age- and therapy-related hemodynamic insufficiencies are required.

Neurogenic myocardial dysfunction post craniopharyngioma resection: A diagnostic dilemma.

Endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of craniopharyngioma is a commonly used technique. Cerebral vasospasm may occur in nearly 10% of cases leading to adverse neurological outcomes. Cardiopulmonary dysfunction may be seen in patients with severe vasospasm. The literature describing the occurrence of neurogenic stunned myocardium following craniopharyngioma resection in pediatric patients is very sparse. Here, we describe such a case managed with a combination of milrinone (to relieve vasospasm and improve cardiac pump function), noradrenaline (to obtain target blood pressure), and vasopressin (to control urine output). This case report proposes the treatment plan of neurogenic stunned myocardium following vasospasm in pediatric patients.

Early and recurrent cerebral vasospasms after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: The impact of age.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral vasospasms remain a strong predictor of poor outcome after aneurysmal SAH. The aim of this study was to describe the time course of relevant vasospasms after aneurysmal SAH and to determine the variables associated with early-onset or prolonged and recurrent vasospasms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of consecutive adult patients with aneurysmal SAH admitted between 2016 and 2022 at our tertiary stroke center. Relevant vasospasms, defined as vessel narrowing detected in DSA in combination with clinical deterioration or new perfusion deficit, were detected according to our in-house algorithm and eventually treated endovascularly. The primary endpoint was the diagnosis of relevant vasospasms. As secondary endpoints, the time from hemorrhage to the onset of vasospasms and the time from the first to the last endovascular intervention were measured. RESULTS: Of 368 patients with aneurysmal SAH, 135 (41.0%) developed relevant vasospasms. The median time between ictus and detection of vasospasms was 8 days (IQR: 6-10). Patients with early-onset vasospasms were significantly younger (mean 52.7 ± 11.2 years vs 58.7 ± 11.5 years, p = 0.003) and presented more frequently vasospasm-related infarctions at discharge (58.8% vs 38.7%, p = 0.03). In 74 patients (54.8%), recurrent relevant vasospasms were observed despite endovascular treatment. Younger age and early onset were significantly associated with longer duration of relevant vasospasms (both p < 0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Younger age was associated with early-onset and longer duration of relevant vasospasms in this study. More frequent clinical and diagnostic follow-up should be considered in this subgroup of patients that are at risk for poor outcomes.

Impact of human serum albumin level on symptomatic cerebral vasospasm in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of human serum albumin (HSA) levels on symptomatic cerebral vasospasm (SCVS) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records. SCVS was defined as the development of a new neurological deterioration when the cause was considered to be ischemia attributable to vasospasm after other possible causes of worsening had been excluded. The aSAH patients were divided into two groups: those with SCVS (group 1) and those without SCVS (group 2). The HSA level data on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day after admission was collected. Multivariate logistical regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed to evaluate the ability of HSA level to predict the development of SCVS. RESULTS: A total of 270 patients were included in our study, of which 74 (27.4%) developed SCVS. The average and lowest HSA levels were lower in group 1 (P < 0.001). In univariate logistic regression, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and average and lowest HSA levels were associated with SCVS. After adjustment for age, CT Fisher grade, Hunt-Hess grade, and WFNS grade, both the average and lowest HSA levels remained independent predictors of SCVS (P < 0.001). The CT Fisher grade was confirmed to be an independent predictor of SCVS across each model. ROC analysis revealed that the lowest HSA level was a better predictor for SCVS than average HSA level and CT Fisher grade. CONCLUSION: Clinicians are encouraged to measure HSA levels for the first 3 days after admission to predict the occurrence of SCVS after aSAH.