Transient acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and aneurysm embolization: a single-center experience

Predictive value of spinal CSF volume in the preoperative assessment of patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus

Introduction

The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) remain unclear. Although some prognostic tests recommended in iNPH guidelines should have high sensitivity and high predictive value, there is often no positive clinical response to surgical treatment.

Materials and methods

In our study, 19 patients with clinical and neuroradiological signs of iNPH were selected for preoperative evaluation and possible further surgical treatment according to the guidelines. MR volumetry of the intracranial and spinal space was performed. Patients were exposed to prolonged external lumbar drainage in excess of 10 ml per hour during 3 days. Clinical response to lumbar drainage was assessed by a walk test and a mini-mental test.

Results

Twelve of 19 patients showed a positive clinical response and underwent a shunting procedure. Volumetric values of intracranial space content in responders and non-responders showed no statistically significant difference. Total CSF volume (sum of cranial and spinal CSF volumes) was higher than previously published. No correlation was found between spinal canal length, CSF pressure, and CSF spinal volume. The results show that there is a significantly higher CSF volume in the spinal space in the responder group (n = 12) (120.5 ± 14.9 ml) compared with the non-responder group (103.1 ± 27.4 ml; n = 7).

Discussion

This study demonstrates for the first time that CSF volume in the spinal space may have predictive value in the preoperative assessment of iNPH patients. The results suggest that patients with increased spinal CSF volume have decreased compliance. Additional prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm our results.

Admission Lower Serum Phosphate Ion Levels Predict Acute Hydrocephalus of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Introduction: The relationship between serum phosphate ion (sPi) and the occurrence of acute hydrocephalus (aHCP) in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains largely unknown and controversial. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association between sPi on admission and aHCP following aSAH.

Methods: The study included 635 patients over the age of 19 years diagnosed with aSAH in our institution from September 2012 to June 2018. Data on clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, treatments, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. The association between lower sPi levels and aHCP was assessed in univariate and multivariate analyses. Propensity-score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to reduce significant differences in baseline characteristics between the aHCP group and non-HCP group.

Results: The overall incidence of aHCP following aSAH was 19.37% (123/512). Lower sPi levels were detected in patients with aHCP compared with those without [0.86 (0.67–1.06) vs. 1.04 (0.84–1.21) mmol/L] in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, lower sPi level, high modified Fisher (mFisher) grade, and high Hunt-Hess grade were associated with aHCP [odds ratios (OR) 1.729, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.139–2.623, p = 0.01; mFisher OR 0.097,95% CI 0.055–0.172, p < 0.001; Hunt-Hess, OR 0.555, 95% CI 0.320–0.961, P = 0.036]. After PSM, the matched aHCP group had a significantly lower sPi level than the matched non-aHCP group [0.86 (0.67–1.06) vs. 0.94 (0.76–1.12) mmol/L, p = 0.044]. The area under the curve (AUC) of the sPi level and the logistic regression model based on these predictors (sPi, Hunt-Hess grade, and mFisher grade) was 0.667 and 0.840 (sensitivity of 88.6% and specificity of 68.4%) for predicting aHCP, respectively.

Conclusions: Lower sPi levels predict the occurrence of aHCP, and the model constructed by sPi levels, Hunt-Hess grade, and mFisher grade markedly enhances the prediction of aHCP after aSAH.